Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1973 |
|---|---|
| Official reference | OJ:L_202601973 — C(2026) 6204 |
| Publication | 2 September 2026 |
| Entry into force | 1 September 2026 |
| Affected parties | Pork farmers, meat industry and exporters in affected areas of Italy; Spanish importers of Italian pork products |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries — Animal Health |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases |
| Nature | Provisional and reviewable according to epidemiological evolution |
Spanish operators importing pork meat, cured meats or other pork products of Italian origin face a new layer of health requirements from 1 September 2026. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1973, adopted under Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases, establishes provisional emergency measures in response to the detection of African swine fever (ASF) in certain areas of Italy.
This is not a warning: it is an immediate operational restriction. Any movement of live pigs, pork products or genetic material from the affected areas is subject to compliance with enhanced health requirements. Non-compliance can result in rejection of consignments at the border or at destination.
What does this regulation establish?
Decision 2026/1973 sets out a series of provisional emergency measures affecting the entire value chain of the pork sector in the delimited areas of Italy. The measures are structured around three main pillars:
| Area | Measure established | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Movement of live animals | Restriction on movement of live pigs from affected areas | Farmers and transporters in delimited areas of Italy |
| Pork products | Restriction on movement of pork products and genetic material originating from affected areas | Meat industry, Italian exporters, EU importers |
| Intra-community trade | Conditional on specific health certifications for products from affected areas | All operators trading in pork products from Italian affected areas |
| Livestock farms | Enhanced controls and notification and biosecurity obligations; possible preventive culling | Pork farmers in delimited areas of Italy |
| Destination controls | Spain must apply border and destination controls on Italian pork products from affected areas | Spanish competent authorities and national importers |
The measures are provisional and reviewable depending on epidemiological evolution. This means they can be tightened, extended to new areas or lifted according to the situation on the ground. Operators must stay updated.
Economic and operational impact
ASF is not a disease that affects humans, but its economic consequences for the pork sector are devastating. Restrictions on movement and trade generate direct and indirect costs throughout the chain:
- Certification costs: Each consignment of pork products from affected areas of Italy requires specific health certification, adding administrative time and cost to each operation.
- Risk of consignment rejection: Products that do not provide the required certification may be rejected at the border or at destination, with the resulting cost of return or destruction.
- Supply paralysis: Farmers and meat industries in affected areas of Italy may have their export channels blocked, affecting established contracts and business relationships.
- Preventive culling: Operators in delimited areas are exposed to the possibility of preventive culling of their animals, with the economic impact this entails.
- Additional controls in Spain: Spanish importers must bear the costs of enhanced border and destination controls, including possible additional inspections and waiting times.
Who does it affect?
- Pork farmers in affected areas of Italy: Subject to notification obligations, enhanced biosecurity and possible preventive culling.
- Italian meat industry in delimited areas: Restrictions on movement and marketing of products; need for specific health certifications for each operation.
- Italian exporters of pork products: Intra-community trade is conditional on obtaining specific health certifications for each consignment.
- Spanish importers of Italian pork products: Required to verify that consignments from Italy have the required health certification and to submit to border and destination controls.
- Distributors and food chain operators: Any company handling pork products of Italian origin must verify traceability and health documentation.
- Spanish competent authorities: Required to apply the corresponding controls at the border and at destination on the affected products.
Practical example
A Spanish company importing Italian cured meats has a regular supply contract with a producer located in one of the areas delimited by Decision 2026/1973. From 1 September 2026, each consignment it receives from that supplier must be accompanied by the specific health certification required by the regulation.
If the consignment arrives without that certification or with incomplete documentation, Spanish competent authorities are required to apply border or destination controls that may result in the retention or rejection of the goods. The importer bears the cost of returning or destroying the product, in addition to supply disruption.
The immediate recommendation for this importer is to contact their Italian supplier to confirm whether their production area is included in the delimited areas and, if so, to require updated health documentation before each shipment.
What should companies do now?
- Identify the exact origin of Italian supplies: Verify whether Italian suppliers of live pigs, pork products or genetic material are located in the areas delimited by Decision 2026/1973. Request written confirmation from the supplier.
- Require specific health certification: For any consignment from affected areas, require the specific health certification provided for in the regulation before accepting the shipment. Do not receive goods without supporting documentation.
- Review supply contracts: Check whether current contracts with Italian suppliers include force majeure or adaptation clauses in the event of health restrictions. Activate them if appropriate.
- Prepare for additional border and destination controls: Inform the logistics department of possible delays and additional costs resulting from the enhanced controls Spain must apply.
- Monitor epidemiological evolution: The measures are provisional and reviewable. Establish an alert system to detect changes in delimited areas or certification requirements. CambiosLegales can help you automate this monitoring.
- Consult competent authorities: In case of doubt about whether a specific product is affected, contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the competent regional authority on animal health.
Frequently asked questions
Which Italian pork products are affected by the restrictions?
Decision 2026/1973 affects the movement of live pigs, pork products and genetic material from the delimited areas of Italy. This includes fresh meat, processed products and reproductive material. Only products originating from the specific affected areas are subject to the restrictions; those from other areas of Italy are not affected by this regulation.
What health certification do Italian pork products need to enter Spain?
Pork products originating from affected areas of Italy must be accompanied by specific health certifications established by Decision 2026/1973. Without this certification, Spanish competent authorities are required to apply border or destination controls that may result in rejection of the consignment. The importer must require this documentation from the supplier before each shipment.
When did these restrictions come into force?
The emergency measures came into force on 1 September 2026, one day before their official publication on 2 September 2026. Any import or movement operation of pork products from affected areas of Italy carried out from that date onwards must comply with the new requirements.
How long will these restrictions last?
The measures are provisional in nature and reviewable depending on the epidemiological evolution of African swine fever in Italy. There is no fixed expiry date: the European Commission may extend, modify or lift them according to the situation on the ground. It is essential to monitor updates to the regulation.
What happens if a Spanish importer receives a consignment without the required certification?
Spain, as an importing Member State, is required by Decision 2026/1973 to apply border and destination controls on Italian pork products from affected areas. A consignment without the specific health certification may be retained, rejected or destroyed by competent authorities. The cost falls on the importer, who may also face liability for non-compliance with health regulations.
Official source
Consult full regulation on official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601973
