Saudi Arabia temporarily bans poultry imports from France and Poland

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has announced an immediate and temporary ban on the import of poultry meat, table eggs, and their products from specific regions in France and Poland. This decisive measure comes in response to documented international reports confirming outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in those areas, necessitating swift action to ensure the safety of the local market.

Details of restricted areas and international reports

The decision was based on immediate notification reports issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in late December 2025. The decision specified that the ban would cover the Calvados region of France and the Lodzkie region of Poland. This action followed the monitoring of the epidemiological situation reports for France on December 18, 2025, and Poland on December 19, 2025, which confirmed cases of the virus, posing a potential risk to public health and livestock.

Global context and the importance of biosecurity

Avian influenza is a transboundary viral disease that poses a persistent challenge to international food trade. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) plays a pivotal role in the Kingdom's biosecurity system, continuously monitoring global epidemics and taking proactive measures to prevent the entry of any pathogens into the country. These measures are of paramount importance given the significant expansion of the domestic poultry sector in Saudi Arabia, as these decisions aim to protect national investments in this vital sector and prevent the spread of infection to local birds.

Exceptions and strict health conditions

To ensure market stability and the smooth flow of food supplies, the authority has exempted from this temporary ban shipments of poultry meat and table eggs that have undergone sufficient heat treatment to eliminate the avian influenza virus. It is scientifically established that proper heat treatment is sufficient to neutralize the virus and render the products safe for human consumption.

Regulatory authorities have set strict conditions for releasing these exempted products, including:

• It fully conforms to the approved standard specifications in the Kingdom.
• Attach official health certificates issued by accredited authorities in France and Poland.
• The certificates must prove that the products are free of the virus or have undergone the necessary heat treatment.

Government coordination for consumer protection

In a collaborative effort between government agencies, the Ministry of Commerce and the Federation of Saudi Chambers have circulated the details of this urgent decision to all importers and chamber members. This step aims to ensure immediate compliance with the new regulations and to protect importers from any financial losses that might result from importing shipments from restricted areas. These measures are based on the decisions issued on 4 Rajab 1447 AH, reflecting the swift response of Saudi regulatory bodies to global health developments and ensuring the availability of safe and healthy food for citizens and residents.