Authorized zones in Canada and the USA for poultry imports: what changes in 2026

Key data

Spanish importers of poultry meat and poultry products from Canada and the United States have an urgent obligation: to verify whether their suppliers are still in zones authorized by the EU. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1959, published on 24 August 2026 and in force since 21 August, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and updates the map of authorized and suspended zones in both countries.

The underlying reason is new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in territories of Canada and the USA. The response of the European Commission is the usual one in such cases: to suspend the affected zones and enable those considered free of disease. In addition, the regulation corrects errors in previous entries relating to the USA that appeared in the annexes.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2021/404 is the framework regulation that governs which third countries and, within them, which specific zones can export poultry products to the EU. It is not enough for the country to be authorized: authorization operates at the level of a specific geographical zone within the country.

Regulation 2026/1959 introduces the following changes to that framework regulation:

The products affected by these lists are:

• Live poultry
• Poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, day-old chicks, etc.)
• Fresh poultry meat
• Fresh game bird meat

The regulation does not publish in its title the specific zones authorized or suspended: that information appears in the full text of the amended annexes, available in the official source of the Official Journal of the EU. Any importer must consult those annexes directly to know the updated status of their supplier's zone.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not abstract: a batch of poultry meat from a suspended zone will be rejected at the EU border inspection post. This entails direct and immediate costs:

• Cost of detention and storage at the border while the rejection is managed.
• Total loss of goods if they cannot be re-exported to the country of origin.
• Stock shortage in the importer's distribution or production chain.
• Contractual penalties to customers if agreed supply cannot be fulfilled.
• Cost of urgent search for alternative suppliers in authorized zones or in other countries.

At the operational level, companies working with suppliers in border areas between authorized and suspended zones must be extremely vigilant, as status changes can occur rapidly when new avian influenza outbreaks appear.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish and European importers of fresh poultry meat from Canada or the USA.
• Importers of live poultry originating in both countries.
• Companies importing poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, day-old chicks) from Canada or the USA.
• Meat sector operators using North American poultry meat as raw material.
• Food distribution companies with suppliers in Canada or the USA.
• Customs agents and freight forwarders managing clearance of these products.
• Foreign trade advisors serving companies in the poultry sector.

Practical example

A Spanish import company has contracted monthly supply of fresh chicken meat with a supplier located in a state in the north-central USA. Until August 2026, that supplier operated from an authorized zone in Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404.

Following the publication of Regulation 2026/1959 on 24 August, that zone is suspended due to a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in the region. The company does not review the updated annexes and dispatches a batch on 1 September.

Result: the batch is rejected at the border inspection post. The company bears the costs of detention, manages re-export to the origin and must urgently find an alternative supplier to avoid breaching its delivery commitments. All of this could have been avoided with a prior review of the updated annexes before confirming the order.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/1959, available in the Official Journal of the EU, to identify whether the zones of their suppliers in Canada and the USA remain authorized.
2. Contact affected suppliers immediately to confirm their zone status and obtain updated health documentation proving the authorized origin of the goods.
3. Pause or condition orders in transit from zones whose status has not been verified, until confirming that the zone of origin remains enabled.
4. Identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones of Canada, the USA or other third countries, as a contingency against possible additional suspensions.
5. Inform the customs and logistics team of the changes so they verify zone status in each clearance before proceeding with shipment.
6. Establish an alert system for future amendments to Regulation 2021/404, given that zone changes due to avian influenza occur frequently and with immediate entry into force.

Official source

View 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_202601959