U.S. Poultry Imports to the EU: Authorized Zones Updated in 2026

Key data

European importers of poultry products from the United States face an immediate operational change. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2020, published on September 7, 2026 and effective from September 4, 2026, amends the Annexes V and XIV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which are the official lists of countries and zones authorized to export poultry products to the European Union.

The amendment affects exclusively the entries corresponding to the United States and responds, according to the usual context of this type of updates, to the appearance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in certain areas of the country. The practical result is that some previously authorized zones are no longer authorized, and others may have been incorporated or maintained.

What does this regulation establish?

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 is the regulatory framework that establishes which third countries and territories may export poultry and derived products to the EU. Its annexes contain detailed lists of authorized zones, updated periodically based on the health situation of each country.

Regulation 2026/2020 specifically amends two of those annexes:

Zones that have been removed from the lists are blocked with immediate effect: shipments from those zones cannot be introduced into the EU until they are again authorized through a new implementing regulation. Zones that remain on the lists or have been incorporated maintain or acquire access to the European market.

This type of amendment is a common mechanism for health management in the European food chain. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a notifiable disease that, when detected in a zone, automatically triggers restrictions on access to the Community market.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this regulation occurs on two levels:

• Supply disruptions: Importers working with suppliers located in now-excluded zones must stop imports immediately. This can generate stock shortages, especially in companies with long-term supply contracts or with sole suppliers in the U.S.
• Price pressure: The reduction in authorized zones limits the available supply of poultry and poultry meat from the U.S. in the European market. Less supply with stable demand tends to result in price increases for operators needing to replace those sources.

The impact is especially relevant for companies that depend on the U.S. as a primary or significant supplier, since the reauthorization of blocked zones has no fixed timeline: it depends on U.S. health authorities certifying the eradication of the HPAI outbreak and the European Commission validating it through a new regulation.

Companies with geographic diversification of suppliers (other countries authorized under Regulation 2021/404) have greater capacity to absorb the short-term impact.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of live poultry from the U.S. (day-old chicks, breeding birds, etc.).
• Importers of poultry reproductive products (fertile eggs, poultry genetic material).
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game birds from the U.S.
• Distributors and wholesalers in the agri-food sector that have U.S.-origin poultry products in their supply chain.
• Food processing industry that uses U.S. poultry meat as raw material.
• Logistics operators and customs agents managing these imports: they must verify the zone of origin before processing any entry into the EU.

Practical example

A Spanish importer who regularly purchases fresh chicken meat from a supplier located in a U.S. zone that has been removed from Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404 should act as follows:

1. Consult the updated text of Annex XIV (published in the EU Official Journal) to verify whether the supplier's zone remains authorized.
2. If the zone has been removed, immediately suspend any orders or shipments in transit from that zone. Shipments arriving at the EU border from unauthorized zones will be rejected at border control.
3. Contact the U.S. supplier to identify whether it has facilities in other zones that are listed in the updated list.
4. Evaluate alternative suppliers in other countries authorized by Regulation 2021/404 to cover the affected volume while the restriction remains in place.

If the importer fails to act and a shipment arrives at an EU border inspection post from an unauthorized zone, the goods will be retained and rejected, with the associated logistics and economic costs.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify the zone of origin of each U.S. supplier. Consult the updated text of Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404, as amended by Regulation 2026/2020, to check whether the zones of your suppliers remain authorized.
2. Immediately suspend imports from eliminated zones. Do not wait for goods to arrive at the border: rejection at border control generates additional costs for storage, return or destruction.
3. Notify affected suppliers. Communicate the situation to the U.S. supplier so it can demonstrate, if possible, that it also operates from still-authorized zones.
4. Activate supply contingency plans. Identify alternative suppliers in other countries authorized by Regulation 2021/404 to cover the volume that will be without supply.
5. Monitor updates to the EU Official Journal. Reauthorization of blocked zones occurs through new implementing regulations. Staying informed allows you to reactivate imports as soon as possible.
6. Review contracts with suppliers. Verify whether supply contracts include force majeure clauses or adaptation provisions for health restrictions, to manage possible claims or penalties.

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_202602020