RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary suspension on import of chicken and eggs in any form from India due to avian influenza outbreaks in some districts of Karnataka.The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) said in a notification that the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia had imposed a temporary import suspension on all live birds, hatching eggs and chicks from India due to avian influenza outbreaks.Although Saudi Arabia contributes a mere 3 per cent to India’s annual poultry exports of $80 million, exporters fear similar reactions from other importing countries. Oman leads with 38 per cent share in total poultry exports, followed by Maldives (9.3 per cent) and Vietnam (7.6 per cent).“India is considered as one entity in terms of poultry farming.
Hence, importing countries suspend purchase of poultry products from the entire nation in case of (highly pathogenic) avian influenza outbreak in a small town. Since India’s overall poultry exports is a very small portion of its industry size, the import suspension by Saudi Arabia is not going to have any impact on chicken and eggs,” said Balram Yadav, managing director, Godrej Agrovet, one of India’s largest players in poultry products and feed.Owing to repeated outbreaks of the virus, India’s poultry exports have declined over the last two years. After sustaining above $100 million for two years, exports declined to $79.31 million in 2016-17.
