Importing poultry meat from Bosnia: what changes for importers in 2026

Key data

Importers and food chain operators working with poultry meat from Bosnia and Herzegovina must urgently review their supply contracts and health certificates. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1220, published on 10 June 2026 and in force from the previous day, amends Annexes XIV and XV of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which are precisely those that determine which countries and which specific zones within those countries are authorized to export fresh poultry meat and poultry meat products to the European Union.

The update specifically affects the entries corresponding to Bosnia and Herzegovina in those lists. Changes in authorized zones are possibly related to outbreaks of avian diseases such as avian influenza, although the regulation does not publicly detail the exact reasons for each zonal modification.

What does this regulation establish?

The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 is the EU's reference framework for establishing the list of third countries, territories and zones from which the entry of animals, reproductive material and products of animal origin is authorized. Its Annexes XIV and XV specifically regulate:

• Annex XIV: List of third countries or zones authorized for the entry of fresh poultry meat into the EU.
• Annex XV: List of third countries or zones authorized for the entry of poultry meat products into the EU.

The new Regulation 2026/1220 modifies the entries for Bosnia and Herzegovina in both annexes. This means that the zones of the country that were listed as enabled to export to the EU have changed: some may have been suspended (for example, in the event of an avian influenza outbreak) and others may have been reincorporated or maintained.

To find out the exact details of which zones have been enabled or suspended, it is essential to consult the full text of the Regulation in the EU Official Journal.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not tariff-related nor does it involve new fees. The economic risk is operational and logistical: a shipment of poultry meat from a zone that has been suspended in the annexes can be rejected at the EU border control post. This entails:

• Total or partial loss of the value of the rejected merchandise.
• Costs of storage, return or destruction of the shipment.
• Possible administrative sanctions for non-compliance with import regulations.
• Disruption of the supply chain and need to find alternative suppliers urgently.
• Review and possible invalidation of health certificates already issued by Bosnian authorities from suspended zones.

Since the regulation entered into force on 9 June 2026 — one day before its official publication — any shipment in transit or with certificates issued under the previous zoning must be evaluated immediately.

Who does it affect?

• Direct importers of fresh poultry meat from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Importers of poultry meat products (processed, transformed) originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Food chain operators who use Bosnian poultry meat as raw material (meat industry, processors, distributors).
• Customs agents and freight forwarders who manage clearance of these products at EU border control posts.
• Purchasing and procurement departments of food sector companies that have supply contracts with Bosnian suppliers.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing fresh chicken breast has a supply contract with a slaughterhouse located in a zone of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Until 8 June 2026, that zone was listed as authorized in Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and shipments entered without incident.

Following the entry into force of Regulation 2026/1220 on 9 June 2026, that zone has been suspended from the authorized list (for example, due to an avian influenza outbreak detected in the region). If the company has a shipment in transit with health certificates issued by that slaughterhouse, the EU border control post may reject the shipment when verifying that the zone of origin is no longer listed as enabled in the current annexes. The result: merchandise immobilized, costs of managing the rejection and urgent need to locate an alternative supplier in a zone that is listed as authorized.

The preventive solution is simple: before any new shipment leaves, verify in the updated text of Regulation 2026/1220 whether the supplier's zone remains enabled.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of Regulation 2026/1220 in the EU Official Journal to identify exactly which zones of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been modified in Annexes XIV and XV.
2. Verify the zone of origin of each Bosnian supplier and compare it with the zones that continue to be listed as authorized in the updated annexes.
3. Review health certificates of all shipments in transit or pending clearance to verify that the zone of issue remains valid.
4. Contact Bosnian suppliers to confirm whether their establishment and production zone maintain enabled status under the new zoning.
5. Review supply contracts and include clauses that contemplate the possibility of zone suspension for health reasons, to protect the company against future regulatory changes.
6. Inform the customs agent or freight forwarder about the regulatory change so they verify documentation before any import clearance.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: 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_202601220