Saudi Arabia Bars Indonesian Poultry as Bird Flu Concerns Override Halal Certifications

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has slammed the door on Indonesian poultry, but Jakarta is quick to clarify that the friction is biological, not theological. Through the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the Kingdom enacted a total ban on poultry and egg imports from 40 countries, including Indonesia, starting March 1, 2026.

The move, formalized under SFDA Policy No. 6057, serves as a stark reminder of the rigorous "quality walls" built around Middle Eastern markets. For Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, the optics of a Saudi ban often trigger immediate concerns regarding halal compliance. However, the Ministry of Trade has moved to decouple the religious from the regulatory.

This distinction is vital for Indonesia’s burgeoning agricultural export ambitions. While the country secured mutual recognition of its halal certificates with Saudi Arabia in late 2023, that "passport" is effectively useless if the product itself is deemed a health risk. The current impasse highlights a critical bottleneck in Indonesia's downstreaming agenda: international trade today is governed as much by laboratory results as it is by trade agreements.

Health Standards Over Halal Status

Zulvri Yenni, the Indonesian Trade Attaché in Riyadh, clarified that the policy is an effort by the Kingdom to ensure the health and safety of goods circulating in its domestic market.

“This import ban is related more to the fulfillment of quality standards to meet health requirements, regulations, and prevailing standards,” Yenni stated in a written release on Tuesday. “Indonesia’s halal certification has been accepted by Saudi Arabia since the memorandum of understanding was signed between the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and the SFDA on October 19, 2023.”

The real culprit is the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) report updated on January 28, 2026, Indonesia has yet to regain its "bird flu-free" status. Without this designation, Saudi regulators view Indonesian avian products as a high-risk commodity.

A Competitive Gap in ASEAN

The ban places Indonesia in a crowded penalty box. Other nations facing a total ban include China, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. However, the absence of neighbors like Thailand and Singapore from the list is a cause for concern in Jakarta.

“This is a momentum for Indonesia to update its bird flu-free status as soon as possible,” Yenni added. “It is crucial so that our export market share is not captured by regional competitors.”

Domestic Stability Amid Global Bans

While the export market tightens, the domestic front is grappling with its own pressures. Trade Minister Budi Santoso recently dismissed rumors that the government’s "Free Nutritious Meal" (MBG) program—a flagship social initiative—was driving up domestic chicken prices.

Despite consumer complaints of prices hitting Rp 45,000 per kilogram (approx. $2.85), Santoso argued that the program actually stabilizes the market by providing "demand certainty."

“Previously, prices fluctuated because demand was unpredictable. Now, with the MBG program, production can follow a linear path,” Budi said. He noted that while local spikes exist, the national average remains around Rp 40,259 per kilogram (approx. $2.55).

As Saudi Arabia continues to review its list based on global epidemiological dynamics, Indonesia faces a race against time to clean up its health credentials before its poultry industry loses its foothold in the lucrative Gulf market.