The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has tightened controls on poultry and table egg imports in one of the most extensive updates in recent years, banning poultry products from 40 countries including Ghana.
The import-ban list, also confirms that imports from these countries are fully prohibited, with additional restrictions imposed on 16 other nations amid ongoing global disease concerns in the Saudi territory.
The decision was issued as part of precautionary measures aimed at protecting public health and reinforcing food safety in Saudi Arabia’s local market.
The authority stressed that the list of restricted countries is subject to periodic review in line with global health developments.
Among the primary concerns cited are outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The approach reflects continuous monitoring of the global epidemiological situation and regulatory adjustments based on evolving disease patterns.
40 countries under full ban
The 40 countries among the full ban list include, Ghana, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Djibouti, South Africa, China, Iraq, 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, Ivory Coast, and Montenegro.
Partial ban covering specific regions in 16 countries
In addition to the full ban, a partial ban has been imposed targeting specific provinces and cities in 16 countries, including Australia, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Saudi authorities, the restrictions in the partially ban category, applies only to designated states and cities rather than nationwide prohibitions.
Position of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG)
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), responding to the ban, said the Ghana’s inclusion in the list alongside major economies like Germany, Japan, the UK, China among others, reflects the non-discriminatory, and risk-based character of the SFDA’s posture.
In that vein, CAG, has called on government and key stakeholders, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Veterinary Council and MoFA, to as a matter of urgency, acknowledge that the Saudi import ban is not merely a trade matter, but the need for Ghana to build and deepen a regulatory infrastructure that sustains and demonstrate credibility to the international community.
CAG’s CEO, Anthony Morrison, explained that Ghana stands at a consequential juncture. According to him, the Saudi poultry import ban is the latest and most responsible decision to protect citizens of that country.
He said countries that will leave their populations exposed to preventable disease, due to lack of investment in world-class food safety and animal health systems, will not command global market access.
Source: B&FT
