Saudi Arabia’s General Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has imposed an immediate and temporary ban on the import of poultry meat, table eggs, and their products from two regions in France and Poland, following confirmed international reports of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in those areas.
The decision comes as a precautionary measure aimed at protecting the Saudi market, ensuring food safety for consumers, and preventing the introduction of transboundary animal diseases into the Kingdom.
The Eastern Chamber of Commerce has circulated the details of the urgent decision to all its members, based on notifications received from the Federation of Saudi Chambers and official circulars issued by the Ministry of Commerce, which include directives from the SFDA regarding recent global epidemiological developments.
Regions Covered by the Ban
The suspension applies to imports from the Calvados region in France and the Lodzkie region in Poland, based on immediate notification reports issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in late December 2025, confirming the presence of the virus in these areas.
Excluded Products
The SFDA clarified that the temporary ban excludes shipments of poultry meat and table eggs that have undergone sufficient heat treatment capable of eliminating the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in order to ensure the continued supply of safe food products to the local market.
Regulatory authorities stressed that clearance of excluded products is strictly subject to full compliance with Saudi health requirements and approved standard specifications, ensuring they are free from any contaminants that could pose a risk to public health.
Importers are also required to attach official health certificates issued by the competent authorities in France and Poland, conclusively confirming that the imported products are free from the virus or have been subjected to the approved heat treatment.
Immediate Compliance
This swift action follows WOAH reports dated 18 December 2025 regarding the situation in France and 19 December 2025 concerning Poland, and is in line with SFDA decisions issued on 4 Rajab 1447 AH.
The temporary ban reflects the high level of vigilance exercised by Saudi regulatory authorities in monitoring global food safety developments, while maintaining a balance between protecting public health and ensuring the availability of food supplies.
The Ministry of Commerce and the Federation of Saudi Chambers continue to coordinate with importers and chamber members to disseminate these measures and ensure immediate compliance, in order to avoid any losses resulting from the importation of banned shipments.
