Public health concerns have prompted Saudi authorities to impose a complete ban on the import of poultry products — including eggs — from 40 countries, including Bangladesh.
In addition to the full ban, partial restrictions have been placed on 16 other countries to safeguard public health and ensure food safety in the Saudi market, Gulf News reported.
Officials said the list of affected countries will be reviewed regularly in line with global health developments and epidemiological updates. According to the latest revision, some bans have been in place since 2004, while others were introduced gradually over the years based on risk assessments and international reports on animal diseases, particularly outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Countries facing a full ban include 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 authorities clarified 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.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
