Food Safety Standards Compliance in the Poultry Supply Chain: A Management Study of Distributors in Ibadan and Abeokuta

This study examines food safety standards compliance in the poultry supply chain among distributors operating in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. The poultry supply chain in these cities serves large urban consumer populations whose food safety expectations are increasingly shaped by documented outbreaks of salmonella, Newcastle disease, and avian influenza. Compliance with food safety standards, encompassing cold chain maintenance, hygiene protocols, transportation sanitation, and documentation, is both a regulatory obligation under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and a competitive requirement for market access. Using a descriptive management survey design, structured questionnaires and compliance checklists were administered to 75 poultry product distributors and cold chain logistics operators across both cities. Compliance levels are assessed across five dimensions: temperature control maintenance, vehicle sanitation frequency, product labelling accuracy, personnel hygiene practices, and regulatory documentation. Distribution performance is measured through product shelf life at point of sale and contamination incident frequency. The study draws on food safety management system literature and cold chain compliance research from West African contexts. Findings are expected to reveal that temperature control and vehicle sanitation are the most frequently violated standards. Recommendations address distributors, the Ogun and Oyo State Ministries of Agriculture, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on targeted enforcement, distributor training, and affordable cold chain technology deployment for poultry distribution networks. Keywords: food safety compliance, poultry supply chain, distributors, Ibadan, Abeokuta.