The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has temporarily banned the import of poultry meat, eggs, their products and equipment from five regions in the US, due to the spread of severe bird flu disease, according to a report.

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa were added to the eight regions - Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas - from where poultry meat was banned earlier, said the Saudi Gazette report.

The authority has excluded poultry meat and eggs and their products that have been treated thermally or in any other way capable of eradicating the bird flu virus, from the temporary ban, it said.

A health certificate issued by the competent official US authorities should be attached proving that the products were treated thermally or in any other way capable of elimination of avian influenza virus.

This temporary ban will continue until the health status of livestock and the approval of the facilities for export of poultry meat and products are stable there, said the report.

The SFDA has also temporarily banned the import of poultry meat, eggs, their products and equipment from the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, it added.