Avian Flu 2026: EU restrictions for poultry producers and what they must do now

Key data

If you operate a poultry farm, a poultry slaughterhouse or market poultry products within the EU, this decision may affect you from now on. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2295, published on October 13, 2026, amends the annex to Decision 2023/2447 and redraws the emergency health zones against high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in certain Member States.

The operational key is immediate: the regulation entered into force on October 9, 2026, four days before its official publication. Any operator whose facility falls within the new geographical delimitations must act without delay.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/2295 amends the annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, which is the general framework for emergency measures against HPAI outbreaks in the EU. The specific modification consists of the revision of protection and surveillance zones already established, adapting them to the epidemiological evolution of active outbreaks.

The two categories of zones being updated are:

• Protection zones: immediate perimeter around the outbreak focus, with the strictest restrictions.
• Surveillance zones: area outside the protection zone, with control measures and active monitoring.

Within these zones, operational restrictions directly affect:

• Movement of live birds (entry, exit and transit).
• Movement of eggs (for consumption, incubation and processing).
• Movement of derived products from poultry.
• Application of reinforced biosecurity protocols in all included facilities.

The regulation does not establish new specific sanctions: the consequences of non-compliance derive from the national legislation of each Member State and from the general rules of intra-community trade, which include export blockade.

Economic and operational impact

The impact depends directly on whether the facility falls within or outside the new zones delimited in the updated annex. For affected operators, the operational consequences are immediate and can be significant:

For operators outside the affected zones, the impact is indirect but real: possible supply chain disruptions if their suppliers or customers fall within restricted zones.

As for Spain, the regulation expressly indicates that it could be affected if any of its regions is included in the updated annex. Spanish operators must verify the annex to Decision 2026/2295 to confirm whether their facilities are or are not in a control zone.

Who does it affect?

• Poultry producers (chicken, turkey, duck and laying hen farms) located in updated protection or surveillance zones.
• Poultry slaughterhouses that receive or process birds from restricted zones.
• Poultry product operators: companies processing, packaging and distributing eggs and derivatives.
• Transporters and logistics operators that move live birds or poultry products between zones or Member States.
• Intra-community exporters of birds and poultry products from affected zones.
• Spanish companies if any region of Spain is included in the updated annex to Decision 2026/2295.

Practical example

A broiler chicken farm located in a region that is included in the new protection zone of the updated annex faces the following situation from October 9, 2026:

• It cannot transfer live birds outside the zone without express health authorization from the competent authority.
• Eggs produced at the facility are subject to destination restrictions: they cannot be sent directly to another Member State without meeting the specific health requirements for protection zones.
• It must immediately implement the reinforced biosecurity protocols required by the regulation: access control, disinfection, recording of personnel and vehicle movements.
• If it attempts to make an intra-community export without meeting these conditions, the shipment may be blocked at the border and the company may face administrative sanctions according to applicable Spanish legislation.

A slaughterhouse that receives birds from that farm is also affected: it must verify that the supplier meets zone conditions before accepting the batch, or assumes the risk of receiving non-compliant goods.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated annex to Decision 2026/2295 on EUR-Lex to verify whether the facility falls within any protection or surveillance zone. This is the priority and urgent step, given that the regulation is already in force as of October 9, 2026.
2. Contact the competent veterinary authority of the corresponding autonomous community to confirm the zone status and the specific applicable obligations.
3. Review and strengthen the facility's biosecurity protocols if it falls within an affected zone: access control, vehicle and personnel disinfection, movement recording.
4. Halt or condition the movement of birds, eggs and derived products until confirming that they meet the requirements of the corresponding control zone.
5. Alert supply chain customers and suppliers about the possible impact on deliveries and timelines, especially if there are ongoing or planned intra-community exports.
6. Document all actions taken in compliance with the regulation, to demonstrate diligence in the event of inspection or sanctions.

Official source

Consult full 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_202602295