Saudi bans poultry imports from Tennessee over bird flu fears

Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted imports of live poultry from Tennessee, United States, after a lethal strain of bird flu was detected in the state, the kingdom’s news agency SPA reported.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in a statement said the ban was imposed following a warning by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture reported two cases this month of commercial poultry flocks being infected by the H7N9 flu in Lincoln County.

“No affected animals entered the food chain,” the department said in a statement on March 16, adding that the risk of a human becoming ill with bird flu during poultry illness incidents is “very low.”

Separately, Saudi Arabia ordered its port inspectors last week to intensify checks on meat imported from Brazil, following reports that sub-standard and rotten meat had been exported out of the Latin American country.

The kingdom barred imports from four Brazilian companies – BRF SA, Seara Alimentos Ltda, JJZ Alimentos SA and Frango DM Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda – citing safety concerns.

BRF said on Monday that its exports to Saudi Arabia were only partially affected by the kingdom’s restrictions on Brazilian beef and poultry imports.

“Only one BRF plant was affected by the measure from KSA, not the whole company,” a spokesperson told Argaam.

“BRF is still exporting to KSA from other plants, with enhanced control at the border which is applicable to all Brazilian beef/poultry imports,” the company added.

Write to Elsayed Solyman at elsayed.solyman@argaam.com