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

Key data

Importers of poultry and poultry products from Canada, United States and United Kingdom must immediately review whether their suppliers remain in zones authorized by the EU. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/591, in force since 12 March 2026, amends the annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and updates the map of zones enabled to export to the European Union.

The reason behind these changes is the evolution of avian influenza outbreaks in the three countries. The EU restricts or rehabilitates zones based on the declared health status, which means that the map of authorized zones changes with each new outbreak or with the recovery of the health status of a region.

What does this regulation establish?

The regulation updates the entries corresponding to Canada, United Kingdom and United States in the lists of third countries authorized to export to the EU. Specifically, it amends two annexes of Regulation 2021/404:

The specific products subject to these restrictions or rehabilitations are:

• Live poultry
• Poultry reproductive products
• Fresh poultry meat
• Fresh game bird meat

The changes do not affect the entire territory of each country equally: authorization or restriction operates at the level of geographic zone within each country. This means that a supplier in one region may remain valid while another in a different region of the same country may have been excluded.

Economic and operational impact

The most immediate and costly impact is rejection of shipments at the border. If a company imports from a zone that no longer appears as authorized in the updated annexes, the goods may be blocked at the EU entry point, with the storage, return or destruction costs that entails.

Beyond shipment rejection, affected companies must consider:

• Administrative sanctions for non-compliance with import conditions established in European health regulations.
• Supply chain disruption if the usual supplier is in a restricted zone and there is no alternative supplier in an authorized zone.
• Indirect impact on European exporters: Canada, USA and United Kingdom may adopt reciprocal measures affecting European exports to those markets.
• Contract review with suppliers: if the contract does not include force majeure clauses or changes in health regulations, the importing company may be exposed to penalties for order cancellation.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of live poultry from Canada, USA or United Kingdom.
• Importers of poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, genetic material) from these three countries.
• Meat companies and distributors that import fresh poultry meat or game birds from these territories.
• Poultry supply chain operators: customs agents, freight forwarders and logistics operators managing these imports.
• European exporters who may be affected by reciprocal measures from the three countries.
• Advisors and compliance officers in food and poultry sector companies.

Practical example

A Spanish poultry meat importing company has a supply contract with a supplier located in a region of southeastern United States. Until the entry into force of Regulation 2026/591, that zone was listed as authorized in Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404.

Following the update, that region has been restricted due to a new avian influenza outbreak. If the company does not verify the updated annexes before the shipment reaches the EU border, the goods may be rejected at the entry point, generating port storage costs, return management or cargo destruction, plus the possible opening of a sanctioning file.

The solution involves verifying, before each import, that the specific supplier zone continues to be listed as authorized in the updated annexes, and maintaining direct communication with the supplier about the health status of their region.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 as amended by Regulation 2026/591, available on EUR-Lex, to verify which zones in Canada, USA and United Kingdom remain authorized.
2. Confirm with each supplier the exact region or zone from which it operates and cross-check it with the authorized zones in the annexes, before issuing any new order.
3. Review supply contracts to identify whether there are clauses covering health regulatory changes or import restrictions, and activate them if appropriate.
4. Alert the customs and logistics team so that they do not process or accept shipments from zones that have been removed from the authorized list since 12 March 2026.
5. Establish a regulatory monitoring system for this type of update, as the annexes of Regulation 2021/404 are frequently amended depending on the evolution of avian influenza outbreaks.
6. Consult with a specialist advisor in foreign trade and health regulations if there is uncertainty about the status of any particular zone or about the implications of shipments already in transit.