Avian Flu 2026: restricted zones and obligations for the poultry sector

Key data

Poultry producers, exporters and importers in the EU must review their situation immediately. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/821, published on 9 April 2026 and effective from 7 April, updates the restricted zones for outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in certain Member States. This modification may expand or reduce protection and surveillance areas, with direct consequences for the movement of poultry, poultry products and eggs in intra-community trade.

The regulation modifies the annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, which is the base framework for emergency measures against HPAI in the EU. Any company operating in the delimited zones or marketing poultry products from or to those zones must verify its compliance situation immediately.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/821 updates the map of HPAI-restricted zones in the EU, adapting it to the evolution of active outbreaks detected. The specific changes are set out in the modified annex, which can both expand and reduce protection and surveillance areas according to the epidemiological situation in each Member State.

The measures established for affected zones include:

• Restrictions on movement of poultry, poultry products and eggs from delimited zones.
• Direct impact on intra-community trade in poultry products from affected zones.
• Strict biosecurity protocols that must be applied by poultry operators located in delimited zones.
• Notification obligations for operators in protection and surveillance zones.

The structure of restricted zones follows the usual HPAI management model in the EU, which distinguishes between protection zones (smaller radius, stricter measures) and surveillance zones (larger radius, monitoring measures). The annex update reflects the evolution of outbreaks detected in the affected Member States.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this regulation is immediate and operational. Affected companies have no adaptation period: the regulation entered into force on 7 April 2026, even before its official publication.

The main effects on business are:

• Trade blockages: Operators in restricted zones cannot freely move poultry, eggs or poultry products to other Member States without complying with the established requirements. A trade blockage can result in the paralysis of already contracted shipments.
• Biosecurity costs: Producers in delimited zones must implement or strengthen biosecurity protocols, which involves additional costs for personnel, equipment and procedures.
• Notification obligations: Failure to comply with notification protocols can result in administrative sanctions and loss of operating authorizations.
• Contract and logistics review: Exporters and importers must review their supply contracts and logistics routes to verify that they do not pass through restricted zones.
• Risk of sanctions: Operating outside regulatory compliance in affected zones may result in sanctions and trade blockages under EU animal health regulations.

Who does it affect?

• Poultry producers located in protection or surveillance zones delimited in the updated annex.
• Exporters of poultry, eggs and poultry products from affected zones to other Member States.
• Importers of poultry and poultry products that receive goods from restricted zones.
• Logistics operators and transporters that manage the movement of poultry or poultry products on routes that cross delimited zones.
• Distributors and wholesalers of poultry products that work with suppliers in affected zones.
• Advisors and compliance officers of agri-food companies with exposure to the poultry sector.

Practical example

An egg exporting company with facilities in an affected Member State receives an update to the annex of Decision 2023/2447 that includes its municipality in a new protection zone. From 7 April 2026, this company cannot continue with its usual egg shipments to other Member States without complying with the specific requirements established for protection zones.

To be able to operate, the company must: verify that its facility complies with the required biosecurity protocols, notify the competent authority of its situation, and obtain health documentation that certifies compliance before carrying out any product movement. If it already has shipments in transit or signed contracts, it must contact its customers and the competent veterinary authority to manage the situation. Non-compliance may result in rejection of goods at destination and administrative sanctions.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated annex to Decision 2023/2447 as modified by Decision 2026/821, to verify whether its facilities or those of its suppliers are located in any protection or surveillance zone.
2. Review active commercial flows of poultry, eggs and poultry products to identify whether any origin or destination is in a restricted zone.
3. Activate the biosecurity protocols required for delimited zones if the facility is included in the annex, without waiting to receive a requirement from the competent authority.
4. Comply with notification obligations to the competent veterinary authority if operating in a protection or surveillance zone.
5. Communicate to customers and suppliers any restrictions that affect agreed supplies, to manage contracts and logistics with as much advance notice as possible.
6. Establish a regulatory monitoring system to detect new updates to the annex, as zones may expand or contract depending on the evolution of outbreaks.