Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2056 of 8 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Modified standard | Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 |
| Publication | 10 September 2026 |
| Entry into force | 8 September 2026 |
| Affected parties | Poultry producers and bird and egg trading companies in restricted zones of the EU |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Official reference | OJ:L_202602056 — C(2026) 6469 |
If you operate a poultry farm or trade in birds, eggs or derived products in the EU, this regulation could halt your operations overnight. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2056, in force from 8 September 2026, amends Decision 2023/2447 to update the territories affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks and associated emergency measures.
The change is significant: restriction zones are redesigned, and with them the specific obligations of each operator change. If your facility falls within a protection or surveillance zone, the rules of the game change immediately.
What does this regulation establish?
Decision 2026/2056 amends Decision 2023/2447, which is the general framework for emergency measures against HPAI outbreaks in the EU. The update adjusts the specific territories affected and the measures applicable in each one.
The zoning system operates at two differentiated levels:
| Zone type | Description | Main measures |
|---|---|---|
| Protection zone | Immediate area around the outbreak focus | Strict restrictions on movement of birds, eggs and derived products; reinforced sanitary controls; mandatory notification; possible preventive culling |
| Surveillance zone | Peripheral area surrounding the protection zone | Reinforced sanitary controls; conditional movement restrictions; health certifications for intra-community and international trade |
The specific modifications introduced by Decision 2026/2056 are:
- Adjustment of territories included in protection and surveillance zones in several Member States affected by new outbreaks or evolution of existing ones.
- Update of restrictions on movements of poultry, eggs and derived products from the delimited zones.
- Maintenance of the obligation for specific health certifications for intra-community and international trade from restricted zones.
- Possibility of applying preventive culling in farms within protection zones.
The regulation enters into force with retroactive effect from 8 September 2026, two days before its publication in the EU Official Journal (10 September 2026).
Economic and operational impact
The consequences for affected companies are direct and immediate. This is not a gradual adaptation: the regulation is in force from 8 September and obligations are enforceable from that same day.
- Shipment paralysis: Movements of birds, eggs and derived products from restricted zones are conditional or directly prohibited without the corresponding health certification. Any shipment without updated documentation may be rejected at destination or at the border.
- Certification costs: Intra-community and international trade from restricted zones requires specific health certifications, which implies additional management costs, official veterinarians and possible delays in the supply chain.
- Risk of preventive culling: Farms within protection zones may be subject to preventive culling ordered by the competent authorities, with the economic impact this entails for the producer.
- Notification obligation: Operators must notify any suspicion or confirmed case to the authorities, which implies internal surveillance protocols.
- Reinforced sanitary controls: More frequent inspections, additional records and biosecurity measures that generate direct operational costs.
Who does it affect?
- Poultry producers (chicken, turkey, duck, goose and other poultry farms) whose facilities fall within the new delimited protection or surveillance zones.
- Marketing and distribution companies for live birds, eggs and derived products from restricted zones.
- Intra-community exporters and importers operating with poultry products originating from Member States affected by outbreaks.
- Processing companies (slaughterhouses, processing plants) that receive raw materials from delimited zones.
- Logistics operators and transporters that move birds or poultry products through restricted zones.
Practical example
A poultry producer with a farm of 50,000 laying hens in a region of an affected Member State wakes up on 9 September 2026 with their facility within a new protection zone declared by the national authorities under this Decision.
The immediate consequences are:
- All movements of eggs outside the farm are restricted until obtaining the corresponding health certification issued by the official veterinarian.
- Must activate the mandatory notification protocol to the competent authorities and reinforce biosecurity measures on the farm.
- Supply contracts with distributors may be affected if it cannot provide the health certification required for intra-community trade.
- The authorities may order a preventive culling of the batch if the presence of HPAI virus is confirmed or suspected in the zone.
This scenario is not hypothetical: it is exactly the procedure activated by Decision 2026/2056 for any operator within the delimited zones.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if the facility falls within the new delimited zones. Consult with the competent veterinary authority of each Member State to confirm whether the farm or warehouse is included in an updated protection or surveillance zone by this Decision.
- Review all planned movements of birds, eggs and derived products. Suspend or condition any shipment until confirming that the required health certification for restricted zones is available.
- Activate reinforced biosecurity protocols. Implement or intensify access control, disinfection and clinical surveillance measures of the batch in accordance with the requirements of protection or surveillance zones.
- Establish the mandatory notification channel. Designate an internal responsible party for communication with veterinary authorities and ensure that any suspicion is notified within regulatory timeframes.
- Contact customers and suppliers. Inform the supply chain of possible restrictions and delays resulting from the restricted zone situation, and review force majeure clauses in contracts.
- Consult an official veterinarian or specialized advisor. Specific measures vary depending on the type of zone (protection or surveillance) and the Member State. An error in documentation can result in sanctions or rejection of goods at destination.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my farm is within a restricted zone for HPAI avian flu in 2026?
You must consult with the competent veterinary authority of your autonomous community or Member State, which is responsible for geographically delimiting protection and surveillance zones in accordance with Decision 2026/2056. The regulation updates the affected territories in several Member States, but the specific delimitation is published at the national level. Also check the full text of the Decision on EUR-Lex where the territorial annexes are detailed.
Can I continue selling eggs or birds if I am in a surveillance zone?
In a surveillance zone, trade in birds, eggs and derived products is conditional on obtaining specific health certifications issued by the official veterinarian. It is not automatically prohibited, but it does require additional documentation for each movement. In a protection zone, restrictions are stricter and may involve direct prohibition of certain movements.
What happens if I do not comply with movement restrictions in a restricted zone?
Movements of birds or poultry products without the required health certification from restricted zones may be rejected at destination or at intra-community border controls. Furthermore, non-compliance with the emergency measures established in Decision 2026/2056 may result in administrative sanctions according to the national legislation of each Member State. The regulation does not specify concrete penalty amounts, which depend on the sanctioning regulations of each country.
When does this update of restricted zones come into force?
Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2056 entered into force on 8 September 2026, two days before its publication in the EU Official Journal (10 September 2026). Obligations are enforceable from that date, regardless of when the operator became aware of the regulation.
What regulation does Decision 2026/2056 modify and what changes compared to the previous one?
Decision 2026/2056 amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, which is the general framework for emergency measures against HPAI outbreaks in the EU. The main change consists of updating the territories included in protection and surveillance zones in several Member States to reflect the evolution of active outbreaks as of September 2026. The framework of measures (sanitary controls, movement restrictions, certifications) is maintained, but applied to the new geographic perimeters defined.
Official source
Consult complete 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_202602056
