January 7, 2014
Saudi Arabia approves resumption of poultry imports from Pakistan
Saudi Arabia has approved the resumption of poultry imports from Pakistan, including eggs and day-old chicks, since the ban was imposed due to the bird flu outbreak nearly eight years ago.
The develpment comes after Saudi technical experts from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) visited and inspect different poultry farms and facilities in Pakistan.
The delegation also visited the National Reference Laboratory for Poultry Diseases and National Veterinary Laboratory situated at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, and expressed satisfaction over its standards. Standards of poultry facilities in Pakistan are reportedly on par with their European counterparts.
Saudi Arabia had suspended the import of hatching eggs and day old chicks from Pakistan due to a bird flu outbreak in the country during 2005-2006. Since then, Pakistan has successfully contained the H5N1 virus through the implementation of preventive and precautionary measures. It was declared bird-flu free with effect from September 22, 2008.
In recent times, the local poultry industry had been growing at an annual rate of 13% and may see a potential US$1 billion in revenue if export to Saudi Arabia, Gulf States and other neighbouring countries begins.
