A patient, who according to medics is suffering from Nipah infection
| Photo Credit:
CK Thanseer
Saudi Arabia has suspended fruits and vegetables imports from Kerala and West Bengal following concerns linked to the Nipah virus, triggering anxiety among exporters and farming communities.
In a letter dated February 6, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia requested Indian authorities to halt exports of agricultural produce from the affected states until the epidemiological situation stabilises. It also called for tighter phytosanitary controls on consignments originating from other Indian states and destined for the Kingdom.
The communication said all export consignments must undergo rigorous visual inspection to check for i signs of animal activity, such as bite marks or droppings, and to ensure the produce is apparently sound.
Triggers panic among shippers
Exporters in Kerala have voiced concern over the move, revealing that no fresh Nipah cases have been reported in the state in recent times. Kerala Exporters Forum said the restrictions have sparked panic, particularly among exporters using Calicut International Airport as a key hub for shipments to West Asian markets.
Munshid Ali, general secretary of the Forum, told businessline that sudden curbs have led to order cancellations, financial losses and supply-chain disruptions, with small and medium exporters bearing the brunt.
M. K. Raghavan MP has taken up the issue with the Union External Affairs Ministry, saying that Kerala’s public health situation is fully under control. Continuing trade restrictions despite the absence of a current public health emergency, he said, were creating unwarranted apprehensions about the safety of agricultural produce from the State.
A large number of exporters and farmers depend heavily on the Saudi market for agricultural and allied products, and the abrupt halt has injected uncertainty across the value chain, he noted.
Meanwhile, the APEDA, in a trade advisory issued on February 16, asked exporters to suspend shipments from the two states to Saudi Arabia until further notice, while ensuring all export documentation remains in order.
Munshid Ali pointed out that nearly 3,500 tonnes of fruits and vegetables are airlifted from four airports in Kerala, warning that the current restrictions could also cast a shadow over shipments to other Gulf destinations.
Published on February 23, 2026