Agribusiness Chamber Urges Regulators to Tighten Surveillance on Poultry and Meat Supply Chain
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) is calling on key regulatory institutions to strengthen oversight of the country’s poultry and meat supply chain following Saudi Arabia’s ban on poultry imports from Ghana over avian influenza risks.
The Chamber, in a media statement issued on March 10, urged regulators to undertake urgent risk-based assessments of poultry products circulating within Ghana’s food system and enhance inspection protocols at ports and border entry points.
According to the Chamber, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) should immediately conduct comprehensive assessments covering both domestic and imported poultry and meat products to ensure compliance with international food safety standards.
The organisation further called on the FDA to reinforce laboratory verification procedures and provide clear public health guidance on the safe handling and consumption of poultry products across the supply chain.
“The verification of health certificates and processing records for all poultry imports entering Ghana is not merely an export requirement but a foundational obligation of a food safety authority committed to protecting its population,” the Chamber stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) was also urged to review and update national standards governing the production, processing, packaging, cold chain management and labelling of poultry and meat products.
Such reforms, the Chamber said, should align with international benchmarks, including the Codex Alimentarius codes of hygienic practice for meat and poultry processing.
Additionally, the Veterinary Council of Ghana has been urged to intensify national avian disease surveillance across commercial farms, smallholder operations and backyard poultry systems.
The Chamber recommended enhanced monitoring in high-density poultry production areas, live bird markets and cross-border livestock movement corridors to strengthen early disease detection and response.
It also called for improved reporting protocols and the deployment of updated diagnostic guidance for veterinary professionals in the field.
Beyond domestic regulatory reforms, the Chamber urged government to initiate diplomatic and technical engagement with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to understand the conditions required for Ghana’s reinstatement to the export list.
This process, it said, should include submission of updated avian disease surveillance data and a credible national roadmap demonstrating progress in strengthening food safety and animal health governance.
The Chamber cautioned operators against attempts to circumvent the ban through fraudulent documentation or re-routing of poultry products through third countries, warning that such actions would constitute a breach of international trade law and damage Ghana’s reputation in global markets.
According to the Chamber, the ban highlights the increasingly strict global regulatory environment governing food safety and animal health.
“Countries that invest in world-class food safety systems will command market access and protect their populations, while those that do not risk exclusion from international trade,” the statement added.
