The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa) has classified 266 broiler chicken production projects under the "self-classification" category, as part of its mechanism for classifying poultry projects by risk level, according to SPA. The center said the step is backed by field procedures and technical assessments to ensure compliance with biosecurity standards.

Under self-classification, a facility assesses its own biosecurity readiness against technical standards, helping to control risk levels and improve administrative and field oversight. Projects that reach the advanced levels can use "fast tracks" for procedures and services, while field inspection teams continue their visits in parallel.

In line with the "One Health" approach to protecting people from foodborne pathogens, the center intensified its field work in the first half of 2026. It carried out 2,757 inspection visits to animal facilities, 6,628 visits to veterinary facilities, 181 visits to private and public livestock slaughterhouses, 117 visits to livestock markets and 15 inspection visits to poultry slaughterhouses.

Over the same period, Weqaa ran 15 training programmes that qualified 86 biosecurity inspectors. The training focused on the correct methods of collecting Salmonella samples at poultry slaughterhouses and transporting them to laboratories in line with occupational safety standards, to improve the accuracy of laboratory diagnosis.

The center said these efforts support food safety, protect consumer health and livestock, and contribute to the sustainability of food security in the Kingdom under Saudi Vision 2030. For consumers, tighter checks on farms, markets and slaughterhouses are aimed directly at the safety of the poultry and meat on their tables.