New authorized zones for importing poultry from Canada, Chile and the USA in 2026

Key data

If you import poultry, fertile eggs or fresh poultry meat from Canada, Chile or the United States, this regulation affects you directly. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1550, published on 3 July 2026, updates the Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404, which are the documents that determine exactly from which territories and zones of third countries this type of products can be imported into the European Union.

The usual reason for this type of update is the emergence of avian flu outbreaks or other health events that force the European Commission to restrict or rehabilitate specific zones within the same country. It is not about banning an entire country, but about updating the list of enabled zones within it.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2021/404 is the general framework that regulates the health conditions for the entry into the EU of animals, reproductive products and products of animal origin from third countries. Its annexes contain detailed lists of countries and authorized zones for each type of product.

Regulation 2026/1550 specifically modifies two of those annexes:

The changes consist of updating the entries corresponding to each of these three countries: adding new enabled zones, removing zones that have lost their authorization or modifying the conditions applicable to existing zones. The complete text with the updated zoning is available in the official source of the Official Journal of the EU.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not abstract: a batch of poultry meat or fertile eggs that arrives at a European port or airport from a zone that is no longer authorized will be rejected at the border. This entails:

• Loss of merchandise value or cost of re-shipment to the country of origin.
• Storage costs at the border during the inspection and rejection process.
• Possible administrative sanctions for non-compliance with import conditions.
• Disruption of the supply chain if the usual supplier operates from a now restricted zone.
• Need to find alternative suppliers in enabled zones, with the time and cost that entails.

Additionally, the health certificates that accompany each batch must reflect the authorized zone of origin. If the certificate does not conform to the new zoning, the batch will not pass the veterinary control at the border either, even if the merchandise itself was suitable.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish and European importers of live poultry, fertile eggs, day-old chicks or other reproductive products from Canada, Chile or the USA.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game bird meat originating from these three countries.
• Logistics operators and customs agents who manage the clearance of these goods at the border.
• Integrated poultry companies that import genetic material (fertile eggs, breeding stock) from farms in Canada, Chile or the USA.
• Distributors and wholesalers in the meat sector working with suppliers in these countries.
• Foreign trade advisors and official veterinarians who manage the health documentation of these imports.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing fresh turkey meat has a supply contract with a supplier located in a state in central United States. Until now, that zone was included in Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as an authorized zone.

Following the publication of Regulation 2026/1550, that zone has been removed from the list due to an avian flu outbreak detected in the region. If the company does not review the new zoning and continues to place orders with that supplier, the next batch that arrives at the port of Barcelona will be rejected by the border veterinary services. The direct cost includes the value of the merchandise, freight charges both ways, and inspection expenses, plus the impact on production planning if that meat was intended for a processed product line.

The solution involves immediately consulting the updated text of Annex XIV, identifying whether the supplier's zone remains enabled and, if not, contacting alternative suppliers in zones that are listed in the current list.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the complete text of Regulation 2026/1550 in the Official Journal of the EU to identify exactly which zones in Canada, Chile and the USA have changed status in Annexes V and XIV.
2. Verify the zone of origin of each active supplier in these three countries and cross-reference it with the new list of authorized zones. If the zone is no longer enabled, suspend pending orders immediately.
3. Review supply contracts to include clauses that allow contract termination or adaptation in case the supplier loses zone authorization for health reasons.
4. Update the health certificates required from suppliers to reflect the current zoning according to the new regulation. An outdated certificate is equivalent to a rejected batch.
5. Communicate the changes to the logistics team and customs agent so they verify the documentation before each shipment.
6. Identify alternative suppliers in zones that are enabled, in case any of the current suppliers are removed from the list.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in 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_202601550