Importing animal-origin foods in 2026: which countries change and what importers must do

Key data

If you import animal-origin foods from outside the EU, this regulation directly affects you. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2228, published on 15 October 2026, amends the official list of third countries or regions authorized to export animals and products intended for human consumption to the European Union. The reference legal framework is Regulation (EU) 2017/625, which regulates official controls in the agri-food chain.

The amended regulation, Regulation (EU) 2021/405, is the master document that lists which countries have access to the European market for this type of products. Any change in that list—incorporation, exclusion or modification of conditions—has immediate consequences for international supply contracts.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2021/405 establishes the lists of third countries or regions authorized to introduce into the European Union shipments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption. The new Regulation 2026/2228 amends those lists, which may imply one of these three scenarios:

• Incorporation of new countries or regions to the authorized list, opening new supply routes.
• Exclusion of countries or regions that were previously authorized, closing existing import routes.
• Modification of conditions for certain exporting countries, changing the requirements that shipments must meet.

The complete text with the specific countries affected and the exact changes is found in the EU Official Journal (OJ:L_202602228). Operators must consult that document directly to identify whether their supplier countries are included in the amendments.

The sectors whose lists of authorized countries are managed by Regulation 2021/405 include, among others:

• Meat and meat products (bovine, pork, sheep, poultry)
• Fish and aquaculture products
• Dairy products and raw milk
• Eggs and egg products
• Other animals and animal products intended for human consumption

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this amendment occurs on two levels: immediate operational and medium-term contractual.

Immediate operational risk: If a supplier country is excluded from the list or its access conditions change, any shipment that arrives at the border without meeting the new requirements will be rejected. This means loss of goods, storage and return costs, and possible administrative sanctions for the importer.

Contractual impact: International supply contracts signed with third-country suppliers may become wholly or partially void if the exporting country loses its authorization. It is necessary to review compliance clauses and termination conditions.

Commercial opportunity: If the amendment incorporates new countries to the list, new supply routes open up that can improve price competitiveness or diversify supply risk.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of animal-origin foods that work with suppliers from third countries (outside the EU).
• Operators in the meat sector: companies that import fresh, chilled, frozen or processed meat from non-EU countries.
• Operators in the fish sector: importers of fish, shellfish, aquaculture products and derivatives.
• Operators in the dairy sector: companies that import milk, cheese, butter or other dairy derivatives from third countries.
• Foreign trade and customs advisors who manage agri-food import operations.
• Purchasing and procurement departments of large retailers or food industries with international supply chains.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish company that regularly imports frozen fish fillets from a third country with which it has an annual supply contract for several tens of tonnes. Following the publication of Regulation 2026/2228, that country sees its access conditions to the European market modified: additional health certificates are now required that the supplier does not currently issue.

If the company does not detect this change before the next shipment, the batch will arrive at the European border without the required documents. The result: rejection of the shipment, storage costs in the customs zone, possible destruction of the goods and opening of an administrative penalty file. In addition, the contract with the supplier may be suspended until it obtains the required certification.

The solution involves consulting the full text of Regulation 2026/2228 before the next order, identifying whether the supplier country appears in the amendments and, if so, communicating with the supplier to verify whether it meets the new conditions or whether it is necessary to find an alternative authorized supplier.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of Regulation 2026/2228 in the EU Official Journal to identify exactly which countries or regions have been incorporated, excluded or have seen their access conditions modified.
2. Cross-reference the updated list with your supplier portfolio: check one by one whether the countries of origin of your supplies remain authorized and under what conditions.
3. Review international supply contracts in force with third-country suppliers, especially compliance clauses, force majeure and early termination.
4. Communicate with your affected suppliers to verify whether they meet the new required conditions or whether they need to obtain additional certifications before the next shipment.
5. Preventively suspend orders from suppliers whose country has been excluded or whose conditions have changed, until compliance is confirmed.
6. Identify alternative suppliers in countries that do appear on the updated list, to ensure supply continuity without interruptions.
7. Inform your customs agent or freight forwarder of the changes so they can update document controls in the next imports.

Official source

Consult complete 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_202602228