Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2328 of 14 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 19 October 2026 |
| Entry into force | 14 October 2026 |
| Affected parties | European importers of live poultry, fertile eggs and fresh poultry meat from Canada and the USA |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Modified regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 — Annexes V and XIV |
| Affected countries | Canada and United States |
European importers of poultry products from Canada and the United States must immediately review the status of their suppliers. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2328, published on 19 October 2026 and entering into force on 14 October 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which is the base regulation governing which third countries and specific zones are authorized to export animals and animal products to the European Union.
The usual reason for these updates is the evolution of avian influenza outbreaks or other diseases that force the EU to regionalize authorizations: instead of banning or enabling an entire country, it works zone by zone. This means that a supplier that was valid three months ago may have been removed from the authorized map today, or vice versa.
What does this regulation establish?
The regulation updates the entries corresponding to Canada and United States in the lists of third countries and zones authorized to export to the EU the following products:
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Live poultry | Live animals intended for production, fattening or slaughter |
| Poultry reproductive products | Includes fertile eggs for incubation |
| Fresh poultry meat | Fresh unprocessed poultry meat |
| Fresh game bird meat | Fresh unprocessed game bird meat |
The changes are materialized in Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404. Annex V lists the countries and zones authorized for live poultry and reproductive products; Annex XIV regulates fresh poultry and game bird meat. Both annexes are updated to reflect which specific zones in Canada and the USA are currently enabled, which have been suspended and which have recovered authorized status.
Regionalization is the key mechanism: the EU does not block or enable Canada or the USA as a whole country, but works with specific geographic zones within each country. This allows trade to continue with disease-free regions while restricting access from zones affected by active outbreaks.
Economic and operational impact
The direct impact occurs in two opposite scenarios:
- Supplier in suspended zone: any batch from a zone that has lost authorization will be rejected at the EU border inspection post. The cost is not only the value of the retained or returned goods, but also storage expenses, return transport, document management and, where applicable, product destruction.
- Supplier in newly enabled zone: if a zone that was previously suspended recovers authorization, it opens an opportunity to reactivate or initiate business relationships with suppliers in that area, potentially with more competitive conditions after the restriction period.
Operatively, the main challenge is traceability of origin by zone: it is not enough to know that the product comes from Canada or the USA, you must know exactly in which geographic zone it has been produced or processed, and check that zone against the updated list of Annexes V and XIV. This process must be carried out before each import operation, as the lists can change with each new implementing regulation.
Who does it affect?
- European importers of live poultry from Canada or the USA.
- Importers of fertile eggs (reproductive products) of North American origin intended for European hatcheries.
- Importers of fresh poultry and game bird meat from Canada or the USA.
- Customs agents and logistics operators who manage the clearance of these batches at the border.
- Foreign trade advisors who advise agribusiness companies with North American suppliers.
- Poultry integrators and cooperatives that import genetic material (fertile eggs, breeding stock) of North American genetic lines.
Practical example
A Spanish company importing fertile eggs regularly works with a supplier located in a zone in Iowa state (USA). Following an avian influenza outbreak in that region, the EU suspends authorization for that specific zone in Annex V of Regulation 2021/404. Regulation 2026/2328 records that suspension with entry into force on 14 October 2026.
If the company does not verify the new status of the zone before formalizing the next order, the batch of fertile eggs will arrive at the EU border inspection post and will be rejected. The company will bear the costs of retention, cold storage, document management and possible destruction of the batch, in addition to the loss of the value of the goods. The solution involves identifying an alternative supplier in a zone in the USA or Canada that is listed as authorized in the updated annexes, or waiting for the original zone to recover its enabled status in a future implementing regulation.
What should companies do now?
- Identify the origin by zone of each supplier: request from your suppliers in Canada and the USA the exact geographic zone of production or processing, not just the country. Without this data you cannot verify the authorization status.
- Check against updated Annexes V and XIV: consult the full text of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2328 on EUR-Lex to verify if your suppliers' zones are listed as authorized. Pay attention to both annexes depending on the type of product you import.
- Halt pending orders if there are doubts: if you cannot confirm the zone status before shipment, do not formalize the order. The cost of a batch rejected at the border far exceeds the cost of delaying an operation.
- Update contracts with suppliers: include a clause that requires the supplier to notify you immediately of any change in the authorization status of their zone, and that transfers economic responsibility in case of rejection due to non-enabled zone.
- Establish a regulatory alert system: implementing regulations that update the lists of authorized zones are published frequently and may have retroactive entry into force (as in this case: entry into force on 14 October, publication on 19 October). Subscribe to alerts from the EU Official Journal or use regulatory monitoring tools to not miss any updates.
Frequently asked questions
What specific products are affected by Regulation 2026/2328?
The regulation affects four categories of products from Canada and the USA: live poultry, poultry reproductive products (including fertile eggs for incubation), fresh poultry meat and fresh game bird meat. All of them are regulated by Annexes V and XIV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which are the ones being amended.
What happens if I import from a zone that is no longer authorized?
The batch will be rejected at the EU border inspection post. In addition to the rejection of the goods, the importing company may face administrative sanctions. Associated costs include storage, return transport and, where applicable, product destruction.
When did this regulation enter into force?
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2328 entered into force on 14 October 2026, although it was published in the EU Official Journal on 19 October 2026. This means there is a five-day period in which the regulation was already applicable before its official publication, which reinforces the need for continuous regulatory monitoring.
Where can I check which zones in Canada and the USA are currently authorized?
The authorized zones are listed in Annexes V and XIV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, in its consolidated version with the amendments of Regulation 2026/2328. You can consult the updated text on EUR-Lex, the official EU legislation repository, through the link to the official source of this article.
Why do the authorized zones for importing poultry change so frequently?
Updates usually respond to the evolution of avian influenza outbreaks or other animal diseases. The EU applies the regionalization principle: instead of blocking or enabling an entire country, it works zone by zone to maintain trade with disease-free areas and restrict access from zones with active outbreaks. This means that the lists can change relatively frequently throughout the year.
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_202602328
