RRI.CO.ID, Riyadh - Indonesia’s poultry exports to Saudi Arabia have been halted after the Saudi government imposed a ban on poultry imports from Indonesia, effective early March 2026, following a decision by local food authorities.
Indonesian Trade Attaché in Riyadh, Zulvri Yenni, confirmed the measure and said it was intended to ensure product quality in the Saudi domestic market.
“The import ban is not related to halal issues,” she said in Riyadh on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. “The policy concerns compliance with quality requirements based on applicable health regulations and standards.”
Zulvri said Indonesia is among 40 countries subject to a total ban by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) because it has not been declared free of avian influenza in the latest global animal health report.
She said avian influenza-free status is crucial for restoring market access for Indonesian poultry products. Saudi authorities continue to monitor global epidemiological developments as part of their food safety safeguards.
Saudi Arabia will periodically review its import prohibition list in line with changes in the global animal health situation, she added, describing the measure as part of precautionary efforts against highly pathogenic animal diseases.
Zulvri said exporting countries must issue health certificates recognized by Saudi authorities to confirm that processing standards meet safety requirements prior to shipment.
She also said that global animal health reports serve as the basis for many countries' trade regulations, with data on antibiotic use and animal welfare compiled annually for evaluation.
Indonesian poultry products may still enter the Saudi market through specific heat-treatment methods, provided the process is proven to eliminate the Newcastle disease virus and comply with applicable health regulations. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)
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