Kuwait has lifted poultry import restrictions on seven countries and several regions in the United States and France, while introducing new bans on products from areas affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued nine decisions revising import controls on poultry meat, poultry products and table eggs. Seven decisions lift restrictions covering 56 regions across 21 US states and 11 regions in France. The measures also remove countrywide import bans on Austria, Bangladesh, Argentina, the United Kingdom and Pakistan following reports that bird flu outbreaks in the affected areas had ended.
The lifted restrictions cover fresh, chilled, frozen and processed poultry meat, poultry derivatives, other poultry products and table eggs originating from the countries and regions specified in the decisions. The changes restore their eligibility to supply these products to Kuwait, subject to applicable import requirements.
However, the ministry has introduced new restrictions on poultry meat, derivatives, other poultry products and table eggs from three regions in the United States and one region in France following reported outbreaks of HPAI. The bans apply to fresh, chilled, frozen and processed products. Products that have undergone sufficient heat treatment to eliminate the virus are exempt.
The nine decisions were published in the official gazette, Kuwait Today, and take effect from their respective dates of issuance and publication. The ministry has directed the relevant authorities to implement the measures and ensure compliance.
The revised rules reflect a region-specific approach to poultry import controls, lifting restrictions where outbreaks have ended while imposing or maintaining bans in areas where the disease has been reported.
