Canada and US Zones Authorized to Import Poultry: What Changes in 2026

Key data

Spanish importers of poultry products from Canada and the United States have an urgent obligation: to verify that their suppliers remain in zones authorized by the EU. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1404, published on 24 June 2026 and in force since 22 June, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404, updating the lists of enabled zones in both countries for exporting poultry and its products to the European Union.

This type of update typically responds to the evolution of avian influenza outbreaks or other diseases that require regionalization of import authorizations. In other words: not all of Canada or the US territory is authorized as a whole; the EU works by zones, and those zones change according to the health situation. A zone being removed from the list does not mean the supplier has done anything wrong, but it does mean that their shipments cannot enter the EU until the next update.

What does this regulation establish?

The regulation amends two specific annexes of the regulatory framework for importing animals and animal products into the EU:

The regionalization mechanism is key: the EU does not ban an entire country, but rather delimits which specific zones within that country have current health authorization. When an avian influenza outbreak or other notifiable disease appears, the affected zone is suspended. When the outbreak is overcome and surveillance periods are met, the zone can be rehabilitated. This regulation reflects precisely that updated health map status in Canada and the US.

The base regulation being amended, Regulation (EU) 2021/404, establishes the general framework of lists of third countries authorized to export live animals and animal products to the EU. Updates like this are frequent and respond to the dynamics of animal disease outbreaks globally.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact for importing companies is clear: a shipment arriving at the border from a non-enabled zone will be rejected. This implies:

• Cost of returning or destroying the goods.
• Disruption of the supply chain and possible contractual penalties with customers.
• Possible administrative sanctions for non-compliance with import health regulations.
• Reputational damage to customers and health authorities.

Beyond the immediate risk, this update requires operators to review their supply contracts with Canadian and US suppliers, ensuring they include clauses that guarantee sourcing from enabled zones and that health certificates issued by the authorities of origin reflect the correct zone.

The impact also affects poultry meat sector operators who use raw materials imported from these countries: any supply interruption due to shipment rejection can affect production and delivery commitments with distributors and large retailers.

Who does it affect?

• Direct importers of live poultry from Canada or the US
• Importers of poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, poultry genetic material) from both countries.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game bird meat originating from Canada or the US
• Meat and poultry processing operators who use raw materials imported from these countries.
• Customs agents and freight forwarders who manage clearance of these products.
• Foreign trade advisors and official veterinarians who certify or manage the health documentation of these imports.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing fresh turkey meat has a supply contract with a producer located in a zone in Minnesota (USA). Until the publication of this regulation, that zone was listed in Annex XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as enabled.

Following the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2026/1404 on 22 June 2026, the company must verify whether the specific zone of its supplier continues to be listed in the updated Annex XIV. If that zone has been suspended due to an avian influenza outbreak, any shipment dispatched from that date that arrives at an EU port or entry point will be rejected at border control, with the costs of return or destruction that this entails.

The immediate action is to contact the supplier, request confirmation of their zone of origin and compare it with the updated annexes published in the official text of the regulation on EUR-Lex. If the zone is suspended, you will need to find an alternative supplier in an enabled zone or wait for it to be rehabilitated.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404, as they stand after the amendment introduced by Regulation (EU) 2026/1404, to identify which zones in Canada and the US remain enabled.
2. Verify with each supplier from Canada or the US that their establishment or production zone is listed in the updated list. Request documentation to prove this.
3. Review the health certificates that accompany shipments in transit or pending dispatch, ensuring that the declared zone of origin matches a currently authorized zone.
4. Review supply contracts and include clauses that require the supplier to notify any change in their enabled zone status and that establish responsibilities in case of shipment rejection for this reason.
5. Alert the customs agent or freight forwarder to verify the authorization of the zone of origin before processing each clearance.
6. Establish a tracking system for updates to Regulation (EU) 2021/404, as these amendments are frequent and can affect enabled zones at any time.

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_202601404