Poultry imports from Canada, Chile and UK: which zones change in 2026

Key data

If you import poultry, fertile eggs or poultry meat from Canada, Chile or the United Kingdom, this regulation affects you directly and immediately. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/981, in force since 24 April 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and updates which specific zones in these three countries are authorized to export poultry products to the European Union.

The most likely reason for these changes, according to the usual regulatory context of this type of modification, is the presence of avian influenza outbreaks or variations in the health status of certain zones. The EU manages these risks by periodically updating the lists of authorized zones, and any company that does not adapt its supply chain in time assumes a real operational and economic risk.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2021/404 is the framework regulation that governs which third countries, territories or zones can import animals and animal products to the EU. Its Annexes V and XIV contain the specific lists for the poultry sector.

The new Regulation 2026/981 amends the entries of three countries in those lists:

What changes is not necessarily the authorization of the country as a whole, but the specific zones within each country from which export is permitted. This is common in avian influenza management: when an outbreak is detected in a region, that zone is suspended; when it is controlled, it can be rehabilitated. The full text with the updated zones is found in the annexes of Regulation 2026/981 published in the EU Official Journal.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not abstract. The consequences of failing to verify the status of the zones of origin are concrete and costly:

• Rejection of shipments at the border: If the zone of origin of the supplier has been suspended, the shipment will not enter the EU. The cost includes transport, storage at the border, possible destruction of the product and loss of the value of the goods.
• Administrative sanctions: Non-compliance with import conditions may result in sanctioning proceedings by the competent authorities.
• Supply chain disruption: If the usual supplier operates from a suspended zone, the importing company needs to identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones, which involves time and management costs.
• Impact on ongoing contracts: Supply contracts signed with suppliers in Canada, Chile or the United Kingdom may be suspended if the zone of origin loses its authorization.

The retroactive entry into force on 24 April (before publication on 27 April) means that shipments in transit or in the process of clearance on those dates may also be affected.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish and European importers of live poultry, fertile eggs or other poultry reproductive products from Canada, Chile or the United Kingdom.
• Meat industry that processes or markets fresh poultry meat or game bird meat imported from these three countries.
• Poultry operators (farms, hatcheries, genetic selection centers) that import breeding material from these zones.
• Customs agents and freight forwarders that manage the clearance of these goods at the border.
• Legal and foreign trade advisors that support companies in the poultry sector with international operations.
• CFOs and purchasing directors of companies with supply chains that include suppliers in Canada, Chile or the United Kingdom.

Practical example

A Spanish poultry meat importing company has a supply contract with a supplier located in a Canadian province. Until 23 April 2026, that zone was listed as authorized in Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404.

With the entry into force of Regulation 2026/981 on 24 April 2026, that zone is suspended from the list (for example, as a result of an avian influenza outbreak detected in the region). The company has a shipment in transit that arrives at the port of Barcelona on 28 April.

When presenting the documentation at the Border Inspection Post, the authorities verify that the zone of origin is no longer listed as authorized in the current list. The shipment is rejected. The company bears the costs of return or destruction, plus the loss of the value of the goods and the logistics costs already incurred.

This scenario is avoidable if the importer verifies the status of their suppliers' zones before each shipment, especially following the publication of amendments such as this one.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/981. The text is available on EUR-Lex. Identify whether the specific zones of your suppliers in Canada, Chile or the United Kingdom remain authorized.
2. Contact affected suppliers to confirm from which specific zone they operate and whether that zone maintains its authorized status following the amendment.
3. Review shipments in transit that are on their way from Canada, Chile or the United Kingdom. If the zone of origin has been suspended, coordinate with the customs agent the options available before arrival at the border.
4. Update internal supplier verification procedures to include checking the status of authorized zones in each import operation, not just when the supplier is first registered.
5. Consult with a specialist advisor in foreign trade and animal health if there are doubts about the status of a specific zone or about the implications of shipments already committed contractually.
6. Identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones of the same countries or other authorized countries, to ensure continuity of supply and reduce operational risk.