To protect the local product. Stop the import of chicken and feather sauce

The Syrian National Committee for Import and Export announced the suspension of the import of feather broilers, feather sauce and laying sauce until further notice, in a step aimed at protecting the national product and supporting local poultry breeders.

The "Decision No. 11", which was published by the Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs on its official identifiers on Tuesday, came based on the provisions of "Decree No. 107 of 2026" regulating the work of the National Committee for Import and Export and defining its tasks and powers.

According to the text of the decision, this step comes in light of the follow-up of the reality of the poultry sector in the local market, and in order to protect national production and support breeders, in addition to maintaining the stability of the production process, as the decision tasked the General Customs Administration to take the necessary measures to implement its content, provided that it is published in the Official Gazette and implemented as of the date of its issuance, with the concerned authorities informed for its implementation.

The decision supports the local product

In this context,  the Director General of the General Poultry Corporation, Fadel Haj Hashem, confirmed that the decision to stop the import of feather broilers, laying sauces and feather sauce is a step to support the local product, enhance the confidence of breeders, and encourage the expansion of investments in this sector.

Haj Hashem explained in a statement to SANA on Wednesday that the decision was widely satisfied among breeders, due to the remarkable growth achieved by the poultry industry during the past period in the volume of production, as a result of the entry of new investors and the increase in investments, which led to the achievement of a surplus in local production.

He pointed out that the sector is going through a transitional phase that is moving towards enhancing its presence in foreign markets, pointing out that the success of the export of table eggs recently is an encouraging indicator for the expansion of the export of broilers and its derivatives in the coming period, in order to support the national product and open new markets for it.

The Director General of the General Poultry Corporation stressed the need to achieve a price balance that ensures that the consumer does not burden additional burdens, and at the same time protects breeders from losses, indicating that the concerned authorities are following up on the reality of the markets and working to control production inputs and automate procedures to reduce price fluctuations.

With regard to supporting breeders, Haj Hashem stressed that the Foundation focuses on encouraging modern investment in the poultry industry, to reduce production costs and raise efficiency, while continuing awareness efforts through the media and social media platforms to introduce the latest breeding and production technologies.

Allowing the import of poultry supplies

 Last March, the Syrian General Authority for Ports and Customs issued two decisions to extend the period of permission for the import of poultry sector supplies until the end of April , within the framework of supporting the stability of the local market and the continuation of the production process.

"Resolution No. (7) of 2026" stipulated the extension of the "Decree No. (5) of 2026", which allows the import of hatching eggs and breeding sauces, until April 30, 2026, based on the recommendations of the National Committee for Import and Export, and in view of the continued need to secure production inputs and maintain the balance of the market.

Resolution No. 8 of 2026 extends the date of Resolution No. 6 of 2026 to allow the import of live broilers (feathered), until the same date, with the aim of enhancing the stability of the local market and ensuring the availability of basic foodstuffs, in light of the ongoing need to balance supply and demand.

Poultry Breeders' Protests

 Damascus recently  witnessed  a protest by a number of poultry breeders in front of the Ministry of Agriculture building, rejecting the continued import of chickens, demanding measures to protect local production and support the poultry sector, which is facing worsening crises.

The protesters raised demands to stop imports, pointing out that they lead to flooding markets and exacerbating the losses of breeders, in light of the high costs of production and the weakening of the ability to compete with imported products.

Poultry farmers participating in the vigil stressed that the continued importation threatens to close more poultry farms and put them out of service, warning of the repercussions of this on workers in the sector and local food security.

The protesters pointed out that the poultry sector has been suffering from the high prices of feed, fuel and veterinary medicines for years, calling on the government to take urgent steps to support the local product and regulate import operations to ensure the stability of the market and protect breeders.