Importing poultry from the UK and USA: authorised zones 2026

Key data

Spanish importers of poultry and fresh meat from the United Kingdom and the United States must immediately check whether their suppliers are still operating from zones authorised by the EU. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/772, in force since 26 March 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and updates the lists of zones in both countries that are authorised to export to the European Union.

The reason is sanitary: the evolution of avian influenza outbreaks in various territories of the United Kingdom and the USA has compelled the European Commission to restrict certain zones and authorise others based on their current health status. The practical result is that the map of authorised suppliers has changed, and operating with one that is no longer on the authorised list has direct and immediate consequences.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/772 amends two annexes of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which is the general framework governing which third countries and zones may export live animals and products of animal origin to the EU:

The changes in each annex consist of updating the entries for the United Kingdom and the USA within the lists of authorised third countries, restricting or authorising specific zones based on their sanitary status with regard to avian influenza at the time the regulation was adopted.

It is important to understand that authorisation does not operate at the level of the entire country, but at the level of a specific geographic zone within each country. A company may continue to export from a region unaffected by avian influenza even if other zones within the same country are blocked.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not abstract: it directly affects the continuity of the supply chain in the poultry and meat sector. The specific operational risks are:

• Rejection of consignments at the border: any shipment from a non-authorised zone will be blocked at the EU point of entry, with the associated costs of storage, return or destruction.
• Penalties for the importer: non-compliance with the lists of authorised zones may result in administrative penalties for the importing company.
• Stock disruption: if the usual supplier is located in a restricted zone, the company must seek alternatives in authorised zones, which may involve changing suppliers, renegotiating contracts and potential additional logistics costs.
• Impact on the meat industry: companies that rely on imports of fresh poultry meat from these regions for their production may face supply interruptions without prior notice if they do not monitor regulatory changes.

Who is affected?

• Spanish importers of live poultry from the United Kingdom or the USA.
• Importers of poultry reproductive material (fertile eggs, day-old chicks, etc.) from both countries.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game bird meat originating from the United Kingdom or the USA.
• The Spanish poultry industry that uses genetic or reproductive material imported from these regions.
• The meat industry that processes or transforms fresh poultry meat imported from the UK or the USA.
• Commercial operators and brokers who act as intermediaries in the trade of these products between both countries and the European market.
• Purchasing and supply chain departments of food sector companies with suppliers in the United Kingdom or the USA.

Practical example

A Spanish meat company regularly imports fresh chicken meat from a supplier located in a US state that has recorded an avian influenza outbreak in recent months. Prior to Regulation 2026/772, that zone may have been authorised. Following the update of the annexes, that zone may have been removed from the authorised list.

If the company does not verify the new status of its supplier's zone and places an order, the consignment will arrive at the EU border and will be rejected. The company will bear the costs of returning or destroying the goods, plus any administrative penalties, plus the disruption to its production line.

The solution is straightforward but requires immediate action: consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2026/772 to confirm whether the supplier's zone remains on the authorised list, and if not, activate alternative suppliers in authorised zones.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/772, to identify which zones in the United Kingdom and the USA remain authorised.
2. Verify the exact location of each supplier in the United Kingdom and the USA and cross-reference it with the zones authorised in the updated annexes. Knowing the country is not enough: authorisation operates at the level of a specific geographic zone.
3. Temporarily suspend orders from suppliers whose zone has been restricted until their sanitary status is confirmed or an alternative in an authorised zone is found.
4. Review supplier contracts to include clauses that account for the possibility of sanitary restrictions and establish liability in the event of consignments being rejected at the border.
5. Establish an alert system to monitor changes to the lists of authorised zones, as the avian influenza situation evolves and the annexes may be updated frequently.
6. Consult your logistics operator or customs agent to ensure that the sanitary documents accompanying each consignment correspond to currently authorised zones before the goods leave the country of origin.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026R0772