Bahrain: Smaller Packaging Size Requirement for U.S. Poultry Rescinded

On May 3, 2021, the Bahraini Animal Control & Health Directorate (ACHD) notified FAS/Riyadh that U.S. poultry products will be allowed to flow into the local market indefinitely on the same previously followed protocol. This is a welcome sign for U.S. poultry exporters since the Directorate informed Bahraini importers in September 2020 that they must import U.S. poultry in 3x5 kg bags and not the traditional 15kg bulk packages. The 15kg pack is the standard packing size used worldwide for U.S. chicken leg quarters and limiting poultry products to smaller packing sizes would have significantly limited U.S. exports. In 2020, Bahrain imported 62,326 metric tons (MT) of poultry, an increase of approximately 5.5 percent over imports in 2019. The United States was the third largest supplier of poultry meat to Bahrain with 5,028 MT ($3.9 million). FAS/Riyadh anticipates U.S. poultry exports will rebound for the rest of 2021 now that Bahrain rescinded its smaller packaging size requirement.