Saudi Arabia bans import of poultry, eggs from three regions in France due to spread of bird flu

• The Saudi Food and Drug Authority took the decision due to the spread of bird flu there

• The regions are Landes, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, and Gers

Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned the import of poultry meat, table eggs, and their products from three regions in France due to the spread of bird flu there, said local reports on Tuesday, June 8.

The regions are Landes, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, and Gers, added the reports while talking about the ban by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Bird flu has, over the past couple of decades, had a great impact on global economy. Some estimates said the 2007 bird-flu pandemic caused a global loss of around $760 million.

The SFDA said the ban was put in place after following up on the report issued by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regarding registering of new cases of spread of severe bird flu in these areas.

The authority’s ban decision excluded poultry meat and table eggs that go through thermal processing, which is enough to ensure eliminating the bird flu virus, provided that these products match accredited health conditions, constraints and standards with enclosing a health certificate issued by accredited relevant authorities in France proving that these products are free from the virus.