Jakarta. Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has banned poultry and egg imports from 40 countries, including Indonesia, tightening health controls and raising urgency for Jakarta to restore its avian influenza-free status.

The restriction on Indonesian products is stipulated under SFDA Policy No. 6057 and took effect on March 1, 2026.

Indonesia’s Trade Attaché in Riyadh, Zulvri Yenni, said the ban is unrelated to halal issues, but instead concerns product quality and compliance with health standards.

“This import ban is not related to halal issues, but rather to quality assurance in meeting health requirements, regulations and applicable standards,” Zulvri said in a statement released by the Trade Ministry on Tuesday.

He said the policy should serve as momentum for Indonesia to update its avian influenza-free status with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Indonesia has yet to resume poultry and egg exports to Saudi Arabia, as it has not regained avian influenza-free status in the latest WOAH report, last updated on Jan. 28, 2026.

According to Zulvri, securing the disease-free certification would help reopen Saudi market access for Indonesian poultry and egg products.

He added that the SFDA will periodically review the list of banned countries in line with global animal health developments reported by WOAH, particularly regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks.

“This new Saudi policy should serve as momentum for Indonesia to promptly update its avian influenza-free status in the WOAH report. This is crucial so that our export share is not taken over by competitors, particularly from ASEAN such as Thailand and Singapore, which are not included in Saudi Arabia’s ban list,” Zulvri said.

Besides Indonesia, the ban also applies to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, 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, Ivory Coast and Montenegro.