Saudi Arabia delays Saudi GAP rules for Thai poultry exporters until March 2027

Saudi Arabia extends compliance deadline

Saudi Arabia has postponed the application of its Saudi Good Agricultural Practices, or Saudi GAP, requirements to Thai poultry farms, slaughterhouses and processing plants until March 17, 2027. The decision allows Thai farms that are still completing the certification process to continue exporting under specified conditions, reducing the immediate risk of interrupted shipments.

Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said the Saudi government had accepted the Thai proposal. According to Daily News, eligible exporters may continue using import permits issued before the new measure takes effect while their farms undergo assessment and certification.

Additional certification requirement

Saudi GAP introduces an additional audit and certification requirement for poultry farms supplying the Saudi market. The postponement also covers poultry slaughterhouses and processing facilities, giving businesses across the supply chain another year to complete the required procedures.

The concession followed talks led by Thailand’s National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards and Department of Livestock Development. Thai officials raised the issue through bilateral discussions, diplomatic channels and World Trade Organization forums dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade. These negotiations resulted in transitional arrangements and a later enforcement date.

Large market, limited Thai presence

Saudi Arabia imports more than 570,000 tonnes of poultry meat on average each year, making it a large destination for international suppliers. Thailand exported approximately 100 tonnes of chicken meat to the kingdom in 2025, worth about 8 million baht, according to figures reported by Daily News. Thailand therefore accounts for only a small share of Saudi demand, but uninterrupted eligibility gives its producers an opportunity to develop the market.

The extension protects existing shipments rather than guaranteeing rapid sales growth. Thai exporters still need to complete Saudi GAP certification and satisfy the conditions attached to the temporary arrangement. Farms, slaughterhouses and processors will have to use the additional time to prepare documentation, pass assessments and align their operations with Saudi requirements.

Gateway to Gulf markets

Thai authorities view Saudi Arabia as both a destination and a route into the wider Middle East, including the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Food and agricultural import demand across those markets has been rising, according to the Thai agriculture ministry, increasing the commercial value of maintaining regulatory access.

The postponement removes a near-term compliance bottleneck, but the export figures show that market development remains at an early stage. For Thai poultry companies, the immediate benefit is continuity: existing commercial relationships can be maintained while certification proceeds. Longer-term gains will depend on whether suppliers convert the extra year into approved capacity, stronger distribution and larger orders before the March 2027 deadline.