Kuwait bans Indian poultry items' import

Despite being a small market, the ban poses a threat of spillover into other larger Middle East markets such as Oman and Saudi Arabia

In a major setback for Indian exporters, the government of Kuwait has banned the import of poultry products from this country, due to the fear of transportation of the H5N1 (popularly known as bird flu) virus. The news was conveyed by Kuwait government to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (Apeda).

Despite Kuwait being a very small market (o.1 per cent of our total export), there could be a spillover to other countries. Oman, for instance, which takes 40 per cent by volume. In value terms, Oman is nearly 20 per cent of Indian shipment; Saudi Arabia's is seven per cent.

“If similar action follows elsewhere in the Middle East, India would go out of the poultry export markets,” said a senior Apeda official.

This has come after a H5N1 outbreak in Tripura this January, and then in Mizoram, resulting in the culling of thousands of birds. The central government and the health department of these states later declared the virus was gone. “The government of Kuwait has taken a preventive measure, which could be temporary in nature and might be reviewed after the government intervenes,” hoped the Apeda official.

In 2014-15, Kuwait bought 24.2 tonnes of poultry products, valued at $120,000.

With the low shelf life of poultry meat and eggs, its export from India is largely to nearby countries, with a focus on the West Asian region. Apeda data shows our total export of poultry products was 556,698.80 tonnes (worth $106.4 mn) in 2014-15 from 437,674 tonnes (worth $92.8 mn) in 2013-14 and 577,864 tonnes ($91.2 mn) in 2012-13.

Oman was the largest importer in FY15, with 221,224 tonnes ($22.9 mn). Saudi Arabia was the fourth largest importer, at 18,740 tonnes ($7.8 mn).

The outbreaks in Tripura was after three years, in 2011, which in turn was after three years from an earlier one in 2008.
 

“The government of Kuwait has taken a preventive measure which could be temporary in nature and might be reviewed soon after India government’s intervention,” the Apeda official quoted earlier said, on condition of anonymity.

India has steadily increased its focus in the exports of poultry products. But given the short shelf life of poultry meat and eggs, exports are largely confined to nearby countries with special focus on the Middle East. 

Data compiled by Apeda showed India’s total exports of poultry products jumped to 556,698.80 tonnes (worth $106.38 mn) in 2014-15, against 437,673.53 tonnes (worth $92.83 mn) in 2013-14 and 577,864.24 tonnes (valued $91.24 mn) in 2012-13.

Oman is the largest importer with 221,224 tonnes ($22.94 mn) in 2014-15 versus 107,953.71 tonnes ($13.26 million) in 2013-14 and 31,210.33 tonnes ($4.77 mn) in 2012-13. Also, Saudi Arbia proved the fourth largest importer of poultry products import from India its share of 18,740.42 tonnes ($7.77 mn) in 2014-15 in comparison with 14,018.78 tonnes ($7.94 mn) in 2013-14 and 31652.38 tonnes ($8.28 mn) in 2012-13.

Exports of poultry products to Kuwait
Financial year	Quantity (tonnes)	Value ($ million)
2012-13	22.00	0.12
2013-14	9.31	0.04
2014-15	24.19	0.12

(Source: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority)