Importing poultry from the USA to the EU in 2026: authorized zones and what importers must verify

Key data

Spanish and European importers of poultry products from the USA have an immediate obligation: to verify that their suppliers are still located in zones authorized by the EU. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2149, published on 22 September 2026 and in force since 21 September, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which is the general framework regulating which third countries and territories can send animals and animal products to the European Union.

This amendment is not a minor formality. It directly affects current import authorizations and can invalidate ongoing operations if the supplier is located in a zone that has changed health status.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/2149 updates the entries corresponding to United States in the lists of third countries authorized to export to the EU the following products:

• Live poultry (Annex V of Regulation 2021/404)
• Poultry reproductive products — fertile eggs, one-day-old chicks, genetic material (Annex V)
• Fresh poultry and game meat (Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404)

The logic of the system is as follows: the USA is not authorized as a country as a whole. The EU divides US territory into zones, and each zone has its own health status. When a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak is detected in a zone, that zone loses export authorization. When the situation is controlled and the absence of disease is certified, the zone can regain access.

The usual reason for these updates is the evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in US territory, which in recent years have affected dozens of states and millions of birds. The EU applies the regionalization principle: it does not close access to all of the USA, but only to zones with active risk.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact for importers is operational and immediate. This is not a change in documentary requirements or new fees: it is that certain zones in the USA may have lost or regained authorization to export to the EU.

The consequences of failing to verify the status of the supplier's zone before each operation are:

• Shipment rejection at the border — the goods do not enter the EU and must be returned or destroyed at the importer's expense.
• Administrative sanctions — non-compliance with import conditions may result in enforcement proceedings by the competent authorities.
• Loss of merchandise value — in perishable products such as fresh meat, border rejection means total loss of the shipment.
• Reputational and contractual damage — failure to meet delivery commitments to European customers.

From a supply chain perspective, this regulation requires importers to continuously monitor the status of zones of their US suppliers, as changes can occur rapidly when a new outbreak is detected.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish and European importers of live poultry from the USA
• Importers of poultry reproductive products — companies that import fertile eggs, one-day-old chicks or genetic material of US origin.
• Importers of fresh poultry and game meat of US origin.
• Logistics operators and customs agents who manage the clearance of these goods at the border.
• Spanish poultry companies that use genetic or reproductive material imported from the USA for their production.
• Distributors and wholesalers in the meat sector working with US suppliers.

Practical example

A Spanish import company has a regular supply contract with a poultry slaughterhouse located in a state in the US Midwest. To date, that supplier has operated from a zone authorized by the EU and fresh chicken shipments have entered without incident.

Following the publication of Regulation 2026/2149, the importer must consult the updated Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404 to verify whether the specific zone where its supplier operates is still included in the list of authorized zones. If that zone has been removed from the list — for example, due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak recently detected — any shipment dispatched from that zone will be rejected at the EU border control post.

The importer will then have to find an alternative supplier located in a zone that is on the updated list, or wait for the original zone to regain authorization after certifying the absence of disease. In no case may it import from an unauthorized zone without incurring a violation.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/2149. These annexes contain the current list of authorized USA zones for each type of product.
2. Verify the zone of origin of each US supplier — it is not enough to confirm that the supplier is in the USA; you must confirm that its specific zone is on the authorized list for the specific product being imported.
3. Communicate the regulatory change to suppliers — inform US business partners of the update so they can also verify their status and anticipate possible restrictions.
4. Review current supply contracts — include contingency clauses that provide for what happens if the supplier's zone loses authorization during the contract term.
5. Establish an alert system to monitor future amendments to Annexes V and XIV, given that updates due to avian influenza outbreaks can occur frequently and without extended prior notice.
6. Coordinate with the customs agent to ensure that all import documentation correctly reflects the zone of origin and that this matches the authorized zones at the time of clearance.

Official source

View complete regulation at official source — Official Journal of the EU: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2149

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_202602149