African Swine Fever 2026: new restricted zones and what farmers and operators must do

Key data

If you operate in the pork sector, the question you must answer right now is just one: is my farm or my transport routes within the newly delimited zones? The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1409, published on 24 June 2026 and in force since 19 June, modifies Annexes I and II of Regulation 2023/594, which is the framework regulation for the control of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the European Union. The change is not minor: the restriction maps are updated to reflect the real epidemiological evolution of the disease in the affected Member States.

ASF has no treatment or vaccine available for widespread use. When it enters a farm, the consequences are devastating: animal slaughter, facility closure and commercial blockade. That is why the precise delimitation of control zones is the main risk management tool, and any change in those zones has an immediate effect on operations.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/1409 acts on two specific annexes of Regulation 2023/594:

Each type of zone implies a different regime of restrictions:

• Protection zones: The most restrictive. They are established immediately after confirmation of an outbreak. The movement of animals and products is practically paralyzed.
• Surveillance zones: Surround protection zones. They allow certain movements under strict control and certification conditions.
• Additional restriction zones: Areas with high risk but without confirmed active outbreak. Controls are applied to the movement of live pigs, pork products and genetic material (semen, eggs, embryos).

Changes in Annexes I and II reflect the epidemiological evolution of ASF in the affected Member States: some zones expand because the disease has advanced, others are reduced or eliminated because the situation has improved. The net result is a new map of restrictions that may include territories that were previously free or release territories that were previously blocked.

Economic and operational impact

The practical consequences of being included in a delimited zone are direct and immediate:

The economic impact varies depending on each operator's position in the value chain. For a farmer in a protection zone, it can mean the total paralysis of sales. For a slaughterhouse that receives animals from different zones, it means the need to segregate flows and document the origin with precision. For a transporter, it means reviewing each route and verifying that the animals or products being moved have the correct movement documentation.

Non-compliance with restrictions not only incurs administrative sanctions: it can result in the blocking of exports from the entire company, with consequences that go far beyond a single fine.

Who does it affect?

• Pig farmers whose farms are located in territories included in the new Annexes I or II.
• Slaughterhouses that slaughter animals from delimited zones or that are physically located within them.
• Transporters that operate routes that cross or have origin or destination in restriction zones.
• Commercial operators (wholesalers, exporters, distributors) that handle pork products originating from affected zones.
• Insemination centers and pork genetic material operators located in delimited zones.
• Processing industry (sausages, preserves, processed meat products) that uses raw materials from restricted zones.

Practical example

Imagine a closed-cycle pig farm in a region that, with the update of Regulation 2026/1409, is included in Annex II as an additional restriction zone. Until 18 June 2026, that farm could move animals and sell carcasses without special restrictions. From 19 June onwards:

• Any movement of live pigs outside the zone requires prior authorization from the competent authority and specific documentation.
• Pork products leaving the farm must be accompanied by certification that proves their origin and compliance with the health conditions applicable to the zone.
• If the farm exports to third countries, it must verify whether those countries accept products from zones classified in Annex II, as many export markets apply automatic restrictions.
• The farm's usual transporter must update its transport documentation to reflect the new status of the zone of origin.

If the same farm was previously in a restriction zone and the new regulation excludes it, the effect is the opposite: it recovers freedom of movement and can reactivate commercial or export contracts that were blocked.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the location of the farm or facility in the new Annexes I and II of Regulation 2026/1409. Consult the full text in the EU Official Journal to locate whether your municipality or region appears in the updated geographic lists.
2. Contact the competent veterinary authority of your autonomous community to confirm the status of your zone and obtain guidance on applicable movement procedures.
3. Review commercial and export contracts to identify whether any customer or destination market applies automatic restrictions to products from zones delimited by ASF.
4. Update movement documentation of animals and products: movement guides, health certificates and traceability records must reflect the new zone status from 19 June 2026.
5. Inform usual transporters and suppliers of the new status of the farm or facility so they can update their route documentation.
6. Establish a regulatory monitoring system to detect future updates to the Annexes, as the delimitation of ASF zones is reviewed frequently according to epidemiological evolution.

The risk of not acting is twofold: administrative sanctions for non-compliance with movement restrictions, and export blockade that can affect your entire customer chain.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: 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_202601409