Kuwait lifts ban on Virginia poultry products

Published December 8, 2015 by Robert Powell, III

Kuwait has lifted its ban on poultry imports from Virginia, according to an announcement by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. 

Kuwait is the second Middle Eastern country in recent weeks to lift restrictions imposed earlier this year in response to avian influenza outbreaks in several Western and Midwestern states. Oman lifted its ban on Nov. 25.

McAuliffe’s announcement about Kuwait’s action follows a recent 11-day trade and marketing missing to India and several Middle Eastern countries

McAuliffe said that, after  meetings with senior Kuwait government officials during the trip, he and Virginia Agriculture Secretary Todd Haymore also met with several Kuwaiti importers regarding Virginia’s poultry industry and potential future purchases.  Information gathered from these meetings is being shared with Virginia poultry companies producing and exporting halal-certified products and whole birds.

Kuwait is Virginia’s 42nd largest export destination for agriculture and forestry products this year, with just over $6.5 million shipped as of Oct. 31.  Most of these exports consist of soybean meal.

The poultry industry is the largest segment of Virginia's agricultural industry, producing more than $1 billion in farm cash receipts, contributing $13 billion to the state's economy, and supporting 52,000 jobs, according to the Virginia Poultry Federation.