Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1088 of 12 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 13 May 2026 (EU Official Journal) |
| Entry into force | 12 May 2026 |
| Modified regulation | Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 — Annexes V and XIV |
| Affected countries | Canada and United States (export zones to the EU) |
| Affected products | Live poultry, poultry reproductive products, fresh poultry meat and game birds |
| Affected parties | European poultry importers, poultry operators, veterinary authorities |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries — Animal health — Foreign trade |
| Year | 2026 |
European poultry importers working with suppliers from Canada or the United States have an immediate obligation: to verify that the zones of origin of their supplies remain included in the updated annexes of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1088, in force since 12 May 2026, amends annexes V and XIV of that base regulation and changes which regions of both countries can legally export to the EU.
This type of update typically responds to changes in the health status of certain regions, particularly outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. When an outbreak is detected, the affected zone loses export authorization to the EU. When health status is recovered, it can be re-included. The result is a map of authorized zones that changes frequently and that importers must monitor continuously.
What does this regulation establish?
Regulation 2026/1088 amends two specific annexes of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which is the EU's base regulation for regulating imports of live animals and animal products from third countries:
| Modified annex | Content | Updated countries |
|---|---|---|
| Annex V | List of third countries, territories and zones authorized for entry into the EU of live poultry and poultry reproductive products | Canada and United States |
| Annex XIV | List of third countries, territories and zones authorized for entry into the EU of fresh poultry meat and game birds | Canada and United States |
The three types of affected products are:
- Live poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ratites)
- Poultry reproductive products: fertile eggs for incubation, one-day-old chicks and other reproductive materials
- Fresh poultry meat and game birds
The logic of the system is health-based regionalization: rather than blocking exports from an entire country when there is an avian influenza outbreak, the EU delimits the affected zones and only restricts imports from those zones. This allows other regions of the same country to continue exporting normally, as long as they are included in the current annexes.
Economic and operational impact
The direct impact of this update is operational and can translate into significant economic losses if not managed correctly:
- Retention of shipments at the border: Shipments from unauthorized zones are intercepted at EU border control posts. The importer bears the costs of storage, handling and, in the worst case, destruction of the goods.
- Destruction of goods: If the shipment cannot be returned to the country of origin or redirected to a third country, the competent authority may order its destruction. The cost falls entirely on the importer or consignee.
- Supply chain disruption: Poultry operators who depend on imports from Canada or the USA to supply breeding birds, one-day-old chicks or fresh meat may see their supply interrupted without notice if their supplier's zone loses authorization.
- Costs of finding alternative suppliers: Finding a supplier in a different authorized zone involves time, negotiation and potentially less competitive prices.
Since updates to authorized zones can occur rapidly when an outbreak is detected, monitoring cannot be occasional: it must be continuous throughout the entire commercial relationship with the supplier.
Who does it affect?
- European importers of live poultry from Canada or the USA
- Importers of reproductive products (fertile eggs, one-day-old chicks) of North American origin
- Importers and distributors of fresh poultry meat and game birds from Canada or the USA
- Spanish and European poultry operators that use genetic or reproductive material of North American origin
- Customs agents and logistics operators that manage the clearance of these goods at EU border control posts
- Veterinary authorities responsible for border controls
Practical example
A Spanish importer who regularly works with a supplier of fertile eggs for incubation located in a region of the United States has an ongoing supply contract. On 12 May 2026, Regulation 2026/1088 enters into force, updating the authorized zones of the USA in Annex V of Regulation 2021/404.
If the region where its supplier operates has been excluded from the list of authorized zones (for example, due to a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza), the next shipment arriving at an EU border control post will be retained. The importer will have to bear the costs of storage at the border post and, if unable to redirect the goods, the costs of destruction.
To avoid this situation, the importer must verify, before the shipment leaves the USA, that the zone of origin of its supplier continues to appear in the current annexes of Regulation 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/1088. This verification should be done by consulting directly the updated text in the EU Official Journal.
What should companies do now?
- Verify the current status of your suppliers' zones: Consult the updated annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/1088 to confirm that the zones of origin of your suppliers from Canada and the USA remain authorized.
- Communicate the regulatory change to your suppliers: Inform your North American suppliers of the update and request confirmation from them that their production zone is included in the current list before preparing any shipment.