Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Agriculture is reinforcing animal health standards and biosecurity oversight following Saudi Arabia's policy of restricting poultry imports from several supplier countries, including Indonesia.
The ministry's Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, Agung Suganda, said the sanitary restriction is an opportunity to strengthen Indonesia's position in the global trade of livestock products.
"Strengthening the animal health system is the main foundation of international market confidence. Therefore, we are ensuring that biosecurity, disease surveillance, and the implementation of zoning and compartments are carried out as national standards," he remarked on Friday.
Earlier, as a precautionary health step, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) limits poultry and egg imports, reflecting a standard practice in international livestock commerce, with Indonesia currently listed in countries subject to Saudi Arabia's poultry import restrictions.
The Ministry of Agriculture views this position as part of the general technical process of veterinary trade and does not directly reflect the current state of the national animal health system as a whole.
The government is utilizing this situation as an opportunity to strengthen the credibility of the animal health system and export readiness, with Suganda mentioning that it continues to encourage market access through veterinary diplomacy and the development of downstream processing.
"Our strategy is not just to expand market access, but also to guarantee that Indonesian livestock products comply with internationally recognized standards. Processed products serve as a strategic pathway and showcase the capability of the national industry," he said.
In addition, Hendra Wibawa, Director of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized that restrictions imposed by partner countries are a normal part of sanitary-based trade and are generally risk-based as a precautionary measure.
"We continue to strengthen biosecurity, surveillance, and disease data transparency to ensure the national animal health system meets international standards," he said, adding that zoning and regional segmentation are key instruments in opening market access.
Meanwhile, the ministry's Director of Livestock Product Downstreaming, Makmun, said that poultry exports to Saudi Arabia are still under negotiation for technical requirements. Fresh products such as carcasses and eggs have not yet been approved for market access.
However, he noted that processed poultry products have made some progress.
"The approved requirement is that processed chicken must be subjected to a heat treatment capable of inactivating the HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) virus," he added.
Under this sanitary exemption, Indonesia can still export processed poultry products. In 2023, processed chicken meat exports to Saudi Arabia reached 19 tons, valued at around US$294,654, while other processed chicken-based products grew to over US$132 million in 2024.
To meet international standards, the Ministry of Agriculture is strengthening biosecurity at poultry production centers, enhancing disease surveillance, applying risk-based vaccinations, and controlling poultry movements.
The veterinary health certification system is also aligned with WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) standards, including improved traceability, facility audits, and verification of export-oriented operations.
