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

Key data

If you import poultry, fertile eggs or fresh poultry meat from Canada, United Kingdom or United States, this regulation affects you directly. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2268, published on 8 October 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and updates the lists of authorized zones in these three countries for export to the European Union.

The change is significant: it is not a generic authorization by country, but a list of specific zones or regions within each country. If your supplier operates in a zone that has lost authorization—usually due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza—the shipment may be rejected at the border.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/2268 amends two annexes of Regulation 2021/404, which is the EU's general framework for the entry of live animals and animal products from third countries:

• Annex V: List of third countries and territories, or zones thereof, from which the entry into the EU of live poultry and poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, day-old chicks, genetic material) is authorized.
• Annex XIV: List of third countries and territories, or zones thereof, from which the entry into the EU of fresh poultry meat and game birds is authorized.

The updated entries correspond to Canada, United Kingdom and United States. These amendments respond to changes in the health status of these countries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza, a disease that causes zonal restrictions when active outbreaks are detected.

The full text with the specific authorized zones within each country is contained in the annexes of the regulation, available at the official source on EUR-Lex.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not merely documentary: it has direct consequences for the supply chain and the cash flow of importing companies.

• Rejection of shipments at the border: If imported from a zone that has lost authorization, the shipment may be detained or rejected at the EU entry point. This involves storage costs, merchandise return or destruction management.
• Administrative sanctions: Non-compliance with import restrictions may result in administrative sanctions, as established by the regulatory summary itself.
• Review of existing contracts: Supply contracts signed with suppliers from now-restricted zones may become unenforceable, with consequent impact on prices, timelines and business relationships.
• Need for supplier diversification: Companies that depend on affected zones will need to identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones, which may involve additional homologation and logistics costs.

The volatility of these lists is structural: avian influenza outbreaks occur recurrently in North America and the United Kingdom, making periodic verification of the annexes a permanent operational task for any importer in the poultry sector.

Who does it affect?

• European and Spanish importers of live poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese) from Canada, United Kingdom or USA.
• Importers of reproductive products: fertile eggs for incubation, day-old chicks, poultry genetic material from these three countries.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game birds from Canada, United Kingdom or USA.
• Logistics operators and customs agents who manage the clearance of these shipments at the border.
• Meat industry and poultry processing companies that use imported raw materials from these origins.
• Foreign trade advisors and agribusiness consultants who advise companies in the sector.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing fresh turkey meat has a supply contract with a supplier located in a state in the midwest of the USA. Until the publication of Regulation 2026/2268, that zone was listed in Annex XIV as authorized. Following the update, if that zone has been removed from the list—for example, due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in the region—any shipment arriving at an EU port or entry point from that origin may be rejected at the border.

The importer must: (1) verify whether the zone of its supplier is still listed in the updated Annex XIV; (2) if not listed, suspend pending orders; (3) find an alternative supplier in an authorized zone. Each day of delay in this verification increases the risk of having merchandise detained with storage costs and possible sanctions.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2021/404, as amended by Regulation 2026/2268, to identify which zones of Canada, United Kingdom and USA maintain current authorization.
2. Verify the zone of origin of each active supplier and cross-reference it with the updated lists before formalizing or renewing any import contract.
3. Preventively suspend pending orders from suppliers whose zone of origin cannot be confirmed as authorized until verification is complete.
4. Update internal procedures for controlling international suppliers to include periodic verification of zonal authorization status, given that these lists are modified frequently due to new outbreaks.
5. Inform the customs agent or freight forwarder of the changes so they verify the health documentation of each shipment before clearance.
6. Identify alternative suppliers in authorized zones of the same countries or in other authorized third countries, as a contingency plan for future restrictions.

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_202602268