Avian Flu 2026: new restricted zones in the EU for poultry producers

Key data

If you have a poultry farm or market eggs and derived products in the EU, this regulation may be affecting your operations since April 10, 2026. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/856 modifies the annex of the current emergency regulation (Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447) updating the maps of protection and surveillance zones for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in certain Member States.

The regulation has immediate application and national veterinary authorities are responsible for communicating the specific changes to sector operators in each country.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/856 modifies the annex of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, which is the reference emergency regulation on HPAI outbreaks in the EU. The specific change consists of updating the delimited zones: protection and surveillance perimeters around avian flu outbreaks detected in the affected Member States.

These delimited zones imply a specific restrictions regime:

• Restrictions on the movement of poultry within and outside the delimited zones.
• Restrictions on the movement of eggs and derived products.
• Obligation to comply with the new control perimeters established in the updated annex.
• Possible limitations on the marketing and transport of affected products.

The regulation does not establish new specific sanctions, but does warn that non-compliance may result in sanctions and additional restrictions on intra-community trade.

Economic and operational impact

Being within a protection or surveillance zone for HPAI has direct consequences on the daily operations of a poultry farm or sector company:

• Movement restrictions: Poultry, eggs and derived products cannot be freely moved outside the delimited zone without express authorization from veterinary authorities.
• Impact on marketing: Sales to customers outside the zone may be blocked or require additional procedures while the restriction lasts.
• Intra-community trade: Shipments to other Member States from restricted zones may be subject to additional controls or directly prohibited for certain product categories.
• Risk of sanctions: Non-compliance with the perimeters and restrictions may result in sanctions and additional restrictions on intra-community trade, as established by the regulation itself.

The update of the perimeters may both expand and reduce the restricted zones compared to the previous situation, so it is essential to verify whether the specific location of each farm remains within or has exited the delimited zones.

Who does it affect?

• Poultry producers with farms located in the protection or surveillance zones updated in the annex of Decision 2026/856.
• Egg sector operators that produce, store or market eggs from delimited zones.
• Transport and logistics companies that move poultry, eggs or derived products within or outside restricted zones.
• Intra-community trade operators that export or import poultry and poultry products from or to affected Member States.
• Integrators and processing companies that depend on the supply of poultry or eggs from affected zones.

Practical example

A poultry producer with a layer farm in an affected Member State receives notification from their national veterinary authority that their farm is included within the new surveillance zone established in the annex updated by Decision 2026/856.

From that moment on, they cannot dispatch eggs to customers located outside the zone without the corresponding veterinary authorization. If they had supply contracts with distributors in other regions or EU countries, those shipments are suspended or subject to additional procedures until the authorities lift or modify the zone.

If the same producer attempted to move poultry to another farm outside the perimeter without authorization, they would be in breach of the regulation, which may result in sanctions and additional restrictions on intra-community trade for their company.

What should companies do now?

1. Contact the national veterinary authority to confirm whether the farm location is within any of the protection or surveillance zones updated by Decision 2026/856.
2. Review current supply and distribution contracts to identify which shipments may be affected by movement restrictions on poultry, eggs and derived products.
3. Halt or manage pending movements of poultry, eggs and derived products from or to restricted zones until obtaining the corresponding veterinary authorization.
4. Inform customers and business partners about possible operational restrictions resulting from inclusion in a delimited zone, especially in intra-community trade operations.
5. Document all movements made since entry into force (April 10, 2026) to demonstrate compliance in case of veterinary authority inspections.
6. Monitor updates to the annex of Decision 2023/2447, as perimeters may be modified again if the epidemiological situation changes.