Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1888 of 27 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Modified standard | Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 |
| Publication | 29 July 2026 |
| Entry into force | 27 July 2026 |
| Affected parties | Poultry producers, egg and poultry meat companies in EU outbreak zones |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries — Animal Health |
| Official reference | OJ:L_202601888 — C(2026) 5492 |
If you operate a poultry farm, egg production company or market poultry meat in the EU, this decision may affect you now. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1888, published on 29 July 2026 and in force since 27 July, amends the annex to Decision 2023/2447 and updates the geographic zones where emergency measures against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) apply.
The operational key is immediate: if your facility falls within the new delimitations, you are subject to restrictions on the movement of live birds, eggs and derivatives. This is not a preventive warning — it is a binding obligation in force.
What does this regulation establish?
Decision 2026/1888 does not create a new framework: it amends the annex to Decision 2023/2447, which is the base regulation for emergency measures against HPAI outbreaks in the EU. The mechanism works as follows: when an outbreak occurs, the Commission delimits protection zones and surveillance zones around the outbreak site. These zones are reviewed periodically according to epidemiological developments.
With this update, the geographic zones in the annex are adapted to the current outbreak situation in certain Member States. The specific changes are:
- Review of protection zones: areas of greater immediate restriction around the outbreak site.
- Review of surveillance zones: peripheral areas with enhanced control measures.
- Movement restrictions: prohibition or limitation of the transfer of live birds, eggs for incubation, eggs for consumption and derived products from and to the delimited zones.
The updated annex is the determining document: it contains the exact list of affected regions and municipalities in each Member State. Operators must consult that annex to determine whether their facility falls within or outside the restricted zones. Spain could be included if any of its regions appear in the new delimitation.
| Element | Before (Decision 2023/2447) | After (Decision 2026/1888) |
|---|---|---|
| Protection and surveillance zones | Delimitations according to previous outbreaks | Updated to epidemiological developments of July 2026 |
| Affected Member States | Those included in the original annex | Reviewed according to new active outbreaks |
| Movement restrictions | Applicable in previous zones | Applicable in the new geographic delimitations |
Economic and operational impact
For a poultry company located in an affected zone, the consequences are immediate and direct:
- Suspension of sales and deliveries: the movement of live birds, eggs and derived products is restricted or suspended from the delimited zone. This cuts the supply chain without prior notice.
- Stock management costs: batches that cannot be shipped generate storage costs, risk of expiration and direct losses in perishable products.
- Enhanced biosecurity obligations: facilities in protection zones must apply additional control measures, with the operational cost this entails.
- Risk of sanctions for non-compliance: failure to comply with restrictions can result in administrative sanctions and forced suspension of productive and commercial activities.
- Impact on contracts and customers: delivery commitments with customers may be breached due to regulatory force majeure, with possible contractual penalties.
Who does it affect?
- Poultry producers (chicken, turkey, duck and laying hen farms) located in the geographic zones included in the updated annex.
- Egg production companies for consumption or incubation, in protection or surveillance zones.
- Poultry meat processing and marketing companies that operate or receive supplies from the delimited zones.
- Transport operators and logistics companies that move live birds or poultry products from or to the restricted zones.
- Importers and exporters of poultry products with origin or destination in the affected Member States.
- Spanish operators, in case any region of Spain appears in the revised annex of Decision 2026/1888.
Practical example
An egg production company located in a district that is included in the new protection zone of the updated annex cannot ship its egg batches to external customers while the zone is active. If it has a weekly supply contract with a distribution chain, that contract is effectively blocked from the date of entry into force — 27 July 2026 — until the Commission reviews and lifts the restrictions on that zone.
In parallel, it must strengthen biosecurity protocols at its facilities, record and report any internal movement of birds, and maintain contact with the competent veterinary authority of its autonomous community to receive updated instructions. If you do not verify in time whether your facility is within the delimited area, you may incur non-compliance without knowing it.
What should companies do now?
- Consult the updated annex to Decision 2026/1888 in the EU Official Journal to verify whether your facility or those of your suppliers fall within the new protection or surveillance zones.
- Contact the regional veterinary authority to confirm whether your autonomous community is affected and to receive specific operational instructions.
- Review active supply contracts and identify applicable force majeure clauses in case restrictions prevent the fulfillment of committed deliveries.
- Activate enhanced biosecurity protocols if your facility is in a protection zone: recording of internal movements, access control, notification to authorities.
- Assess the impact on stock and perishable products to make decisions about storage, processing or controlled destruction before greater losses are incurred.
- Document all actions taken from the date of entry into force (27 July 2026) to demonstrate compliance in the event of a possible inspection or claim.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my farm is within the restricted zones under Decision 2026/1888?
You must consult the updated annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1888, published in the EU Official Journal on 29 July 2026. The annex contains the exact geographic delimitation of protection and surveillance zones in each affected Member State. If your facility is in Spain, also contact the veterinary authority of your autonomous community to confirm whether any Spanish region appears in that annex.
What specific restrictions apply in protection and surveillance zones?
Facilities in affected zones are subject to restrictions on the movement of live birds, eggs for incubation, eggs for consumption and derived products from and to the delimited zones. The exact scope of each restriction depends on whether the facility is in a protection zone (greater restriction, immediately adjacent to the outbreak site) or in a surveillance zone (enhanced control measures in the outer perimeter).
What happens if I do not comply with the restrictions on the movement of birds or eggs?
Under Decision 2026/1888, failure to comply with emergency measures can result in administrative sanctions and suspension of the facility's productive and commercial activities. The specific sanctions depend on the national legislation of each Member State, but forced suspension of activity is the most immediate operational consequence.
When do these restrictions come into force?
Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1888 entered into force on 27 July 2026, two days before its official publication in the EU Official Journal (29 July 2026). This means that the restrictions are enforceable from that date, regardless of when you became aware of the regulation.
Does this regulation completely replace Decision 2023/2447?
No. Decision 2026/1888 amends the annex to Decision 2023/2447, which remains the base reference regulation. What changes is the geographic delimitation of protection and surveillance zones, adapted to the epidemiological development of HPAI outbreaks in July 2026. The rest of the regulatory framework of Decision 2023/2447 remains in force.
Official source
View complete regulation at official source — EU Official Journal, OJ:L_202601888
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_202601888