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

Key data

European importers of poultry products from Canada, United Kingdom and United States must immediately review their supply chains. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1207, published on 3 June 2026 and in force from the previous day, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404, which are precisely those that determine which geographic zones of third countries are authorized to export poultry products to the European Union.

The usual reason for this type of update is the emergence or resolution of avian influenza outbreaks in specific zones of these countries, which leads the European Commission to suspend or rehabilitate zones dynamically to protect animal health in the internal market.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2021/404 is the general framework regulating the entry into the EU of live animals, reproductive products and animal products from third countries. Its Annexes V and XIV contain detailed lists of countries and zones authorized to export specific poultry products.

The new Regulation 2026/1207 updates those lists for three key countries:

The amendments may involve both the suspension of zones that were previously authorized (due to newly detected outbreaks) and the rehabilitation of zones that were restricted (due to resolution of previous outbreaks). To find out the exact details of which zones remain enabled or suspended in each country, it is essential to consult the full text of the regulation in the EU Official Journal.

Economic and operational impact

This type of regulatory change has direct and immediate consequences for import operations:

• Ongoing contracts: If an importer has active contracts with suppliers located in zones that are suspended, those contracts cannot be executed until the zone is rehabilitated or an alternative supplier in an authorized zone is found.
• Shipments in transit: Shipments already in transit to the EU from suspended zones may be rejected at the border, generating costs for return, destruction or re-shipment.
• Logistics planning: Logistics operators and freight forwarders must update their systems to reflect the new restrictions and avoid errors in health documentation.
• Prices and supply: The reduction of authorized zones in key exporting countries such as the USA or Canada may generate price tensions in the European poultry meat and reproductive products market.
• Health certificates: Export certificates must reflect the authorized zone of origin. A certificate indicating a suspended zone will be grounds for rejection at the EU border control point.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of fresh poultry meat from Canada, United Kingdom or USA.
• Importers of live poultry for production, breeding or fattening.
• Importers of poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, semen, embryos) from these three countries.
• Importers of fresh game bird meat from the affected zones.
• Logistics operators and freight forwarders managing poultry shipments from these countries to the EU.
• Poultry meat processing industries that depend on imported raw materials from Canada, UK or USA.
• External trade advisors and official veterinarians managing the health documentation of these imports.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish company importing fresh chicken meat that has a monthly supply contract with a supplier located in a region of the United States. Until 1 June 2026, that region was listed in Annex XIV as an authorized zone.

With the entry into force of Regulation 2026/1207 on 2 June 2026, if that region is suspended due to a new avian influenza outbreak, any shipment dispatched from that zone from that date onwards will be rejected at the EU border control point. The importer will need to:

1. Stop pending orders with that supplier until further notice.
2. Verify whether the supplier has facilities in another zone of the same country that remains authorized.
3. Search for alternative suppliers in authorized zones in Canada, United Kingdom or other authorized third countries.
4. Notify its end customers of possible delays or changes in supply origin.

The cost of not acting in time can include rejection of already paid shipments, storage costs at the border, destruction of goods and contractual penalties with customers.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of Regulation 2026/1207 in the EU Official Journal to identify exactly which zones in Canada, United Kingdom and USA remain enabled or suspended in Annexes V and XIV.
2. Verify the zone of origin of each active supplier and compare it with the updated lists of the regulation before placing new orders.
3. Review active supply contracts to identify force majeure or change of origin clauses that may be activated if the supplier is in a suspended zone.
4. Alert the logistics operator and freight forwarder to update dispatch documentation and pre-shipment controls.
5. Establish a monitoring protocol for future updates to Regulation 2021/404, as Annexes V and XIV are modified recurrently in response to new outbreaks or health resolutions.
6. Consult with the official veterinarian or external health service if there are shipments in transit that may be affected by the new zoning.

Official source

Consult full regulation in 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=CELEX:32026R1207