Importing poultry from Canada and the USA: which zones does the EU authorize in 2026

Key data

Spanish and European importers of poultry products from Canada and the United States must urgently review the exact origin of their supplies. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2227, in force since 1 October 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and updates which specific zones in both countries are authorized to export to the European Union.

The change is not minor: a batch from a zone that no longer appears in the updated annexes will be stopped and rejected at the border control point, with the associated logistics, storage and destruction costs.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/2227 updates the entries for Canada and the United States in the lists of third countries authorized to export to the EU the following products:

The logic behind this update is health-based regionalization: when a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak is detected in a zone in Canada or the USA, that zone is excluded from the authorized list. When the outbreak is controlled and the zone recovers the appropriate health status, it can be re-included. This mechanism allows trade to continue from unaffected zones, avoiding total country-level blockades.

Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 are the technical documents that record, zone by zone, which territories of each third country are authorized. With Regulation 2026/2227, those entries for Canada and the USA are updated.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact for importers occurs on three levels:

• Batch rejection at the border: A batch from an unauthorized zone will not enter the EU. The importer bears the costs of return, storage in a control zone or destruction, as appropriate.
• Review of supplier contracts: If the North American supplier operates in a zone that has lost authorization, the supply contract is effectively suspended until that zone recovers its status or an alternative supplier in an authorized zone is found.
• Update of health certificates: The certificates accompanying the batches must reflect the zone of origin in accordance with the new annexes. A certificate that does not match the current zoning is grounds for rejection.

Since the entry into force is 1 October 2026 — a date prior to the official publication of 2 October — any batch in transit or already contracted must be verified immediately.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish and European importers of live poultry, fertile eggs, day-old chicks, fresh poultry meat and fresh game bird meat from Canada or the USA.
• Logistics operators and customs agents who manage the clearance of these batches at EU border control points.
• Poultry incubation and breeding companies that import genetic material (fertile eggs, chicks) from North American farms.
• Poultry meat distributors and wholesalers that have supply contracts with producers in Canada or the USA.
• 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 producer located in a state in central USA. That producer operates in a zone that, following a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak detected months earlier, was excluded from the annexes of Regulation 2021/404.

With the entry into force of Regulation 2026/2227 on 1 October 2026, the company must check whether that zone has been rehabilitated in the new Annexes V or XIV. If the zone remains excluded, the next contracted batch will be rejected at the EU border control point. The company must:

1. Contact its supplier to confirm the exact zone of production and slaughter.
2. Cross-check that zone with Annexes V and XIV updated by Regulation 2026/2227.
3. If the zone is not authorized, suspend the order or find an alternative supplier in an authorized zone.
4. Update the health certificate accompanying the batch to reflect the current zoning.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify the exact zone of origin of each Canadian or US supplier: it is not enough to know the country, you must know the specific state, province or zone.
2. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as they stand after the amendment introduced by Regulation 2026/2227, available in the Official Journal of the EU.
3. Verify the health certificates of batches in progress or contracted to ensure they reflect a currently authorized zone.
4. Update supplier contracts including clauses that link supply to the maintenance of authorized zone status by the EU.
5. Alert the customs agent and official veterinarian responsible for border control about changes in zoning, to avoid rejections due to outdated documentation.
6. Establish a regulatory monitoring system to detect future updates to the annexes, as the HPAI situation in North America can change rapidly.

Official source

Consult the full regulation at the 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_202602227