New authorized zones for importing animals to the EU from South Africa, Canada, UK and USA: what changes in 2026

Key data

European importers of meat products, poultry, eggs and other animal products from South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom and USA must act immediately. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2523, published on 10 November 2026, amends Annexes IV, V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and updates which specific zones in those four countries are authorized to export to the European Union.

This type of amendment is not routine: it typically responds to changes in the health status of specific zones, such as outbreaks of animal diseases. The two most frequent causes are avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease. A zone can become disabled overnight if an outbreak is detected, and that turns any shipment in transit or pending shipment into an immediate operational and economic problem.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2021/404 is the general framework that regulates from which countries and zones the entry of live animals and animal products into the EU is permitted. It is not enough that the country is authorized: the zone of origin within the country must also be enabled. This distinction is critical for operators.

Regulation 2026/2523 amends three specific annexes of that framework:

The specific changes in each zone are not detailed in the available summary, but the usual pattern is the suspension or reincorporation of zones depending on the health status declared by the veterinary authorities of the country of origin and validated by the European Commission.

The products most frequently affected by this type of amendment are:

• Poultry meat and its derivatives
• Eggs and egg products
• Beef, pork and other ungulate meat
• Live animals of certain species
• Other animal products subject to health controls at the border

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not abstract: a shipment rejected at the border implies direct and immediate costs. The most common ones are:

• Storage costs at border facilities while the situation is resolved
• Return or destruction of goods if the zone of origin is not authorized
• Contract breaches with end customers due to failure to meet delivery deadlines
• Contractual penalties with suppliers or customers according to agreed terms
• Reputational cost with food sector customers who demand certified traceability

The risk is especially high for operators working with long-term supply contracts signed before this update, since the supplier may remain the same but its zone of origin may have changed status.

From an opportunity perspective, importers working with zones that recover authorization after a period of suspension can reactivate previously blocked supply routes, which can provide a competitive advantage over operators who have not followed regulatory developments.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of meat products (poultry, beef, pork) from South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom or USA
• Importers of eggs and egg products from the four countries mentioned
• Live animal trading operators of the species covered in the amended annexes
• Distributors and wholesalers in the food sector that buy from affected importers
• Food industry (processors, manufacturers) that use animal raw materials from these origins
• Customs agents and freight forwarders that manage import operations for these products
• Foreign trade and food compliance advisors that serve importing companies

Practical example

A Spanish importing company that buys poultry meat from a zone in the southeastern USA has a current contract with a supplier in that region. After the publication of Regulation 2026/2523, it verifies in the updated annexes of Regulation 2021/404 that that specific zone has been suspended from the authorized list, probably due to an avian influenza outbreak detected in the zone.

Result: the shipment scheduled for the coming weeks cannot enter the EU while that zone remains suspended. The company must:

1. Notify the supplier of the inability to receive the shipment under those conditions
2. Find an alternative supplier in an authorized zone (it could be another US state or a different country)
3. Review the contract clauses to determine who bears the cost of cancellation or redirection
4. Inform its end customers of possible supply delays

This scenario is exactly what Regulation 2026/2523 can generate for operators who have not verified the updated status of their zones of origin.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the status of the zones of origin of all suppliers in South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom and USA by consulting the updated Annexes IV, V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as they remain after the amendment introduced by Regulation 2026/2523.
2. Contact affected suppliers to confirm whether their production or dispatch zone remains authorized or has been suspended.
3. Review current supply contracts and identify force majeure or regulatory change clauses that may apply if a zone becomes disabled.
4. Identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones of the same countries or other authorized third countries, to ensure supply continuity.
5. Inform the customs agent or freight forwarder about the regulatory changes so they verify the health documentation of the next shipments before dispatch.
6. Establish an alert system for future amendments to Regulation 2021/404, since zone updates can occur frequently depending on international health developments.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in 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_202602523