Kuwait has enacted broad regulatory measures affecting various products through Ministerial Decision number 2166 for 2025.
Kuwait Tightens Control on General Imports
A new ministerial decision creates wide-ranging oversight for imported goods, but details are sparse.
What changed
New oversight for all general products introduced under Ministerial Decision 2166 for 2025.
Products must comply with the terms outlined in WTO document G/SPS/N/KWT/201.
Scope applies to a broad, undefined category of goods without a specific product list.
Who it affects
Importers of general goods must comply with the new ministerial decision.
Regulation Analysis: Ministerial Decision No. 2166 of 2025 (Mexico) – Kuwait’s Emergency Measures on Poultry Imports
Kuwait has enacted Ministerial Decision No. 2166 of 2025 to impose an immediate ban on poultry meat and edible offal imports from Mexico due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The measure aligns with international standards and targets specific product categories under the Harmonized System (HS) and International Classification for Standards (ICS).
Key Provisions of the Regulation
- Scope of the Ban
- Rationale and Objectives
- Primary Goals:
- Food safety and animal health1.
- Prevention of HPAI transmission to humans and Kuwait’s poultry population1.
- Urgent Justification: The measure is necessary to mitigate the risk of HPAI entering Kuwait, as declared by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) under Chapter 10.4 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code1.
- Compliance with International Standards
- Enforcement and Oversight
- Responsible Authorities:
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry (policy enforcement).
- Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) (implementation and inquiries)1.
- Contact Points:
- PAFN (National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point).
- Address: 207, Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait.
- Website:1(http://www.pafn.gov.kw)1.
- Effective Date
- The ban enters into force on 24 December 20251.
Compliance Requirements Table
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Deadline/Threshold | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministerial Decision No. 2166/2025 | Prohibition on imports of fresh, chilled, frozen, or processed poultry meat and offal (HS 0207, ICS 67.120) from Mexico1. | 24 December 2025 | Ministry of Commerce and Industry / PAFN1 |
| Compliance with OIE Chapter 10.4 (HPAI control)1. | Immediate enforcement | PAFN1 | |
| Stakeholders must direct inquiries to PAFN (National Enquiry Point)1. | Not specified | PAFN1 |
Summary Answer
Kuwait’s Ministerial Decision No. 2166 of 2025 imposes an emergency ban on poultry meat and edible offal imports from Mexico, effective 24 December 2025, to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The measure targets HS code 0207 and ICS code 67.120 products, aligning with OIE Chapter 10.41. Enforcement is led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN), which serves as the designated contact point for compliance inquiries1. No exemptions or deviations from international standards are specified.
Sources
- ↩ Ministerial Decision number 2166 for 2025 (Mexico) https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NKWT201.pdf&Open=True
