Importing poultry from the USA to the EU: authorized zones updated in 2026

Key data

If you import poultry, fertile eggs, day-old chicks or fresh poultry meat from the USA, this regulation directly affects you. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1820, published on 21 July 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and updates the zones of US territory authorized to export these products to the European Union.

The most likely reason for this adjustment, based on the context of the regulation, is the response to avian influenza outbreaks or other notifiable diseases detected in certain zones of the USA. The EU applies the principle of regionalization: it does not block the entire country, but rather precisely delimits which zones can or cannot export at any given time.

What does this regulation establish?

The Regulation (EU) 2021/404 is the framework regulation that establishes the list of third countries, territories and zones from which entry into the EU of animals, reproductive products and products of animal origin is authorized. The USA is listed in that list with its zones broken down.

The new Regulation 2026/1820 specifically amends two annexes of that regulation:

The amendment consists of adjusting the entries corresponding to the USA: some previously authorized zones may have been suspended (due to active outbreaks), and others previously suspended may have been reinstated (due to recovery of health status). The regulation does not block the USA as a country as a whole, but rather updates the map of valid zones.

Economic and operational impact

The impact for European importers is immediate and operational. This is not a change in rates or tariffs, but a change in the origin eligibility of batches. The direct consequences are:

• Batch rejection at the border: any shipment from a USA zone that no longer appears as authorized in Annexes V or XIV will be rejected by veterinary authorities at the point of entry to the EU.
• Return or destruction costs: rejected batches must be returned to the country of origin or destroyed, with all associated costs borne by the importer.
• Administrative sanctions: failure to comply with entry requirements may result in sanctions by the competent authorities of the Member State of entry.
• Supply chain disruption: if the usual supplier operates in a now suspended zone, the importer must seek alternative suppliers in authorized zones or in other third countries.

The regulation does not specify concrete amounts of sanctions, as these depend on the legislation of each Member State. However, the cost of a batch rejected at the border — including storage, veterinary management, return freight or destruction — can be very significant depending on the volume imported.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of live poultry from the USA (breeding stock, laying hens, broilers).
• Importers of reproductive products: fertile eggs for incubation, day-old chicks of US origin.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and fresh game bird meat from the USA.
• Logistics operators and customs agents managing customs clearance of these goods at the border.
• European poultry industry that depends on genetic or reproductive material of US origin.
• Food wholesalers and distributors with suppliers in the USA for poultry products.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing fresh chicken breast meat has a supply contract with a poultry slaughterhouse located in a state in central USA. Until July 2026, that zone was listed in Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as authorized.

Following the publication of Regulation 2026/1820, that zone has been suspended from the list due to an active avian influenza outbreak. The company has a refrigerated container in transit with 20 tonnes of fresh meat. Upon arrival at the port of Barcelona, the official veterinary service rejects the batch because the zone of origin is no longer authorized at the time of entry.

The importer must bear the costs of storage in a cold chamber at the port, management of the rejection and, most likely, destruction of the merchandise as it is fresh meat with limited shelf life. The economic loss can be total on the value of that batch, in addition to possible administrative sanctions.

The solution: verify the status of the supplier's zone BEFORE each shipment, consulting the current annexes of Regulation 2021/404 in its updated consolidated version.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 on EUR-Lex to verify which zones of the USA are currently authorized for each type of product.
2. Confirm with each US supplier in which geographic zone their facility (slaughterhouse, farm, hatchery) operates and cross-reference it with the updated lists.
3. Review supply contracts and include clauses that transfer to the supplier the responsibility to guarantee that it operates in an authorized zone at the time of shipment.
4. Establish a pre-shipment verification protocol: before each shipment, confirm the status of the zone of origin with the customs agent or official veterinarian.
5. Identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones of the USA or in other authorized third countries, as a contingency plan against possible future suspensions.
6. Alert the logistics team and customs agent about this regulatory change so they apply the necessary checks in each operation.

Official source

Consult the complete regulation at the 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_202601820