New restricted zones due to ASF in the EU: what livestock farmers and meat companies must review in 2026

Key data

If you have a pig farm, slaughterhouse or market meat products within the EU, this regulation can change your operating conditions overnight. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2094, published on 15 September 2026 and in force since 11 September, amends the Annexes I and II of Regulation 2023/594, which are the documents that geographically delimit the zones subject to ASF restrictions throughout the European Union.

The key is not in the text of the regulation itself, but in the maps: if your municipality, district or region now appears in those annexes — or has been removed from them — your obligations change immediately.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2023/594 is the European framework for controlling African swine fever (ASF). Its Annexes I and II are updated geographical lists that periodically classify EU territories according to epidemiological risk level. The new Regulation 2026/2094 updates those lists with the latest veterinary data available as of September 2026.

The specific changes it introduces are of two types:

• Expansion of restricted zones: new geographical areas are included in Annexes I or II, which means that farms and operators located there are subject to restrictions on the movement of live animals and pork products.
• Reduction of restricted zones: other areas are removed from the annexes as the epidemiological situation improves, which may mean the recovery of free movement of animals and products for affected operators.

The regulation reflects the epidemiological evolution of the disease and has immediate effect: it entered into force on 11 September 2026, four days before its publication in the EU Official Journal.

Economic and operational impact

ASF restrictions are not merely administrative: they have direct and measurable economic consequences for affected operators.

• Blockade of animal movements: farms in restricted zones cannot move live pigs outside that zone without express authorization from the competent authority, which paralyzes the supply chain.
• Restrictions on meat products: slaughterhouses and processing plants located in affected zones may see their capacity to market products in the intra-Community market limited.
• Export blockade: failure to comply with restrictions can result in export blockades, with consequent impact on contracts and business relationships.
• Penalties for non-compliance: operators who do not respect the movement restrictions established in the updated annexes may face sanctions according to the national regulations of each Member State.
• Opportunity for zones removed from annexes: if a zone is no longer restricted, operators located there regain full access to the intra-Community market, which can mean an immediate improvement in their competitive position.

Who does it affect?

• Pig farmers with farms in zones included in the updated Annexes I or II.
• Slaughterhouses located in affected areas or receiving animals from restricted zones.
• Meat industry and processing plants that process or market pork products originating from zones with restrictions.
• Intra-Community trade operators that export or import live pigs or pork products from or to affected zones.
• Hauliers and logistics operators that manage the movement of animals or pork products on routes that cross restricted zones.
• Veterinary advisors and farm technicians who must certify compliance with movement conditions.

Practical example

Imagine a closed-cycle pig farm located in a district that, with the update of the Annexes of Regulation 2026/2094, becomes included in the Restricted Zone II. Until 10 September 2026, that farm could move fattening pigs to the reference slaughterhouse without special restrictions. From 11 September onwards, it needs prior authorization from the competent authority for any movement of animals outside the zone, and the receiving slaughterhouse must comply with additional biosecurity and traceability conditions.

If the farm does not review its geographical situation in the new annexes and continues to operate as before, it exposes itself to administrative sanctions and blockade of batches already in transit. Conversely, a meat company whose supply zone exits the annexes can immediately resume supply without restrictions, regaining competitiveness against competitors still in restricted zones.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the geographical location of facilities in the updated Annexes I and II of Regulation 2026/2094, available on EUR-Lex. Check whether the farm, slaughterhouse or plant has entered or exited any restricted zone.
2. Contact the competent veterinary authority of the corresponding autonomous community or Member State to confirm the official status of the zone and the movement conditions applicable from 11 September 2026.
3. Review supply and transport contracts to identify whether any supplier, customer or logistics route is affected by the new delimitations, and activate force majeure clauses or renegotiate conditions if necessary.
4. Update internal biosecurity and traceability protocols to ensure compliance with the conditions required in restricted zones, especially in slaughterhouses and processing plants.
5. Inform the veterinary and operations team about changes in zones so that no movement of animals or products is carried out without the required documentation and authorizations.
6. Monitor future updates of the Annexes, as the epidemiological situation of ASF is dynamic and zones may be modified again at any time.

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_202602094