China Prohibits Incoming Poultry Imports from Spain due to Avian Flu Outbreaks
China has suspended the import of poultry products from Spain following the detection of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) in the country, as reported by various sources. The suspension was announced jointly by China’s General Administration of Customs and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, banning direct or indirect imports of poultry and related products from Spain.
The precise duration of the suspension is not specified in the available information; such bans typically remain in force until the outbreak is controlled and officially declared over or the ban is otherwise lifted by Chinese authorities.
For Spanish poultry producers, this suspension implies a significant disruption in access to the Chinese market, one of the largest in the world for poultry products. It likely causes economic losses due to halted exports and potential oversupply in domestic or alternative markets. Such bans also raise concerns about longer-term trade relationships and may necessitate enhanced control measures in Spanish poultry farming to regain market access.
It is worth noting that China is a major buyer of Spanish agro-food products, with the export of such products to China worth 1.864 billion euros in 2024, registering a positive trade balance of 253 million euros. Since June 2018, Spain and China have signed 11 protocols to open the Chinese market to Spanish agro-food products, including the most recent ones related to pork and cherries. In April, a new export protocol was signed between Spain and China, allowing Spanish poultry producers to access the Chinese market.
No specific details about compensation or mitigation measures for Spanish producers were found in the search results. However, it is known that China will impose penalties on those who violate the prohibitions on poultry imports from Spain.
In summary:
- China suspended poultry imports from Spain due to avian flu outbreaks as of August 12, 2025[3].
- The suspension blocks both direct and indirect imports of Spanish poultry and related products[3].
- Duration unspecified, typically lasts until affected zones are declared free of bird flu.
- Implications include economic losses and disrupted trade for Spanish poultry producers.
No additional official statements or timelines on resuming trade were found in the current data.
