Saudi Arabia bans poultry and egg imports from Bangladesh, 39 countries over health risks

Partial restrictions have also been imposed on specific regions in 16 other countries under updated food safety measures

Saudi Arabia has prohibited the import of poultry and table eggs from Bangladesh and 39 other countries as part of precautionary steps to safeguard public health and ensure food safety in its domestic market.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) also applied partial restrictions on specific regions in 16 other countries, according to Gulf News.

The authority reportedly clarified that the list of affected countries is reviewed regularly in line with global health developments and epidemiological updates.

The Dubai-based daily said some bans have been in place since 2004, while others were introduced gradually based on risk assessments and international reports on animal diseases, particularly outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The updated list places a full suspension on imports from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Djibouti, South Africa, China, Iraq, Ghana, Palestine, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Serbia, Slovenia, Côte d’Ivoire and Montenegro.

Partial restrictions apply to specific states or cities in Australia, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The newspaper noted that the temporary ban does not apply to heat-treated poultry meat and related products, provided they comply with approved health and safety standards.

Such products must be accompanied by official certification confirming that they have been processed in a way that eliminates avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses, and must originate from approved facilities in the exporting country, it said.