Importing poultry from the USA to the EU: authorized zones updated in 2026

Key data

European importers of poultry products from the USA face an urgent operational change: the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2104, published on 18 September 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and updates the map of US zones enabled to export to the EU.

The usual reason for these updates is changes in the health status of certain zones, such as avian influenza outbreaks or other notifiable diseases. The EU applies the regionalization principle: it does not block the USA as a whole, but restricts or enables specific zones according to their epidemiological situation at any given time.

What does this regulation establish?

The regulation amends two key annexes of the regulatory framework for importing live animals and animal products from third countries:

• Annex V: List of third countries and zones authorized for entry into the EU of poultry and reproductive products (fertile eggs, day-old chicks, avian genetic material).
• Annex XIV: List of third countries and zones authorized for entry into the EU of fresh poultry meat and game birds.

In both annexes, the entries corresponding to the United States are specifically updated. The amendments may involve the removal of previously authorized zones (due to deterioration of health status, for example in the event of a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak) or the rehabilitation of zones that had been suspended and have recovered the required health status.

The regionalization mechanism applied by the EU allows that, even if a US zone is blocked, the rest of the country can continue to export if it maintains the required health status. This requires importers to always work with the updated version of the annexes, not with generic country-wide authorizations.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact depends on whether your company's US supplier is located in a zone that has been eliminated or restricted in this update:

• Eliminated or suspended zone: Batches from that zone will be rejected at the EU border control post. This means loss of goods, return or destruction costs, and possible administrative sanctions to the European importer.
• Rehabilitated zone: If your supplier was in a suspended zone that now regains authorization, you can resume imports from that source without additional procedures, provided that all other health and documentary requirements are in order.
• Zone with no changes: There is no immediate operational impact, but it is advisable to verify the status to avoid surprises in future inspections.

Beyond the immediate impact of rejected batches, companies with long-term supply contracts with suppliers in restricted zones should consider seeking alternative suppliers or waiting for the health rehabilitation of the zone, a process that can take several months depending on the evolution of the outbreak.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of live poultry from the USA (poultry companies, integrations, breeding farms).
• Importers of avian reproductive products: fertile eggs for incubation, day-old chicks, genetic material.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game birds of US origin (distributors, meat processors, catering chains with direct supply).
• Customs agents and logistics operators who manage the clearance of these batches at the border.
• Foreign trade advisors and official veterinarians who certify or accompany imports.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish company importing fresh turkey meat that regularly works with a supplier located in a Midwestern state of the USA. This supplier has been its main source for years and imports have been carried out without incident under the authorization of Annex XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

Following the publication of Regulation (EU) 2026/2104 on 18 September 2026, the company must check whether the specific zone where its supplier operates continues to be listed as authorized in the updated Annex XIV. If that zone has been eliminated — for example, due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak detected in the region — any batch it attempts to introduce into the EU from that zone will be rejected at the border control post.

In that case, the company has two options: find an alternative supplier located in a US zone that remains authorized, or wait for the health rehabilitation of its usual supplier's zone, which may involve months of supply disruption and the need to redirect supply to other sources (other authorized US states, or alternative third countries).

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/2104. The consolidated version is available at EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2021/404.
2. Identify the exact US zone where each poultry supplier operates and cross-reference it with the updated entries in the annexes corresponding to the type of product imported.
3. Communicate with affected suppliers about the situation and request confirmation of their health status and zonal location, with supporting documentation.
4. Preventively halt orders in transit from zones whose status has not been confirmed as authorized, to avoid border rejections and associated costs.
5. Identify alternative suppliers in US zones that remain authorized, or in other enabled third countries, to ensure supply continuity.
6. Review supply contracts with US suppliers to verify whether they include force majeure or adaptation clauses for regulatory changes of this type, and activate them if appropriate.
7. Inform the customs agent and logistics operator of the changes so they update clearance procedures and avoid submitting documentation from unauthorized zones.

Non-compliance with these restrictions may result in batch rejection at the border and the imposition of administrative sanctions on the European importer responsible for the operation.

Official source

Consult full 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_202602104