Poultry imports from Canada, Chile and the USA: authorized zones updated in 2026

Key data

If you import poultry, fertile eggs or poultry meat from Canada, Chile or the United States, this change affects you directly and with immediate effect. The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1344, published on 12 June 2026 and in force since 11 June, amends Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 and updates the map of zones from which these products are authorized to enter the European Union.

The adjustment affects the entries corresponding to the three countries in the lists of authorized third countries, and responds to the usual sanitary control mechanism that the EU activates in the event of disease outbreaks such as avian influenza. Some zones may have been suspended; others, reactivated. The practical result is that not all consignments that could previously enter the EU can do so today.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2021/404 is the European framework that regulates from which countries and specific zones live animals, reproductive products and fresh meat of certain species can be imported. Its Annexes V and XIV contain the lists of authorized countries and zones for poultry and derived products.

Regulation 2026/1344 amends those annexes by updating the entries of three countries:

This type of modification is common within the framework of the EU's sanitary control of agri-food imports. When an outbreak of avian influenza or other disease is detected in a specific geographic zone of a third country, the Commission suspends authorization for that specific zone, without necessarily blocking the entire country. Similarly, when a zone exceeds the control period and is considered disease-free, it can be reincorporated into the list of authorized zones.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not uniform: it depends on which geographic zone each supplier operates in within Canada, Chile or the USA. The operational consequences can be immediate and significant:

• Halt of consignments in transit or pending clearance if the supplier operates from a zone that has been suspended.
• Need to find alternative suppliers in zones that remain enabled, with the logistical and negotiation costs that this entails.
• Risk of breach of supply contracts if origin from an authorized zone cannot be guaranteed.
• Indefinite delays for operators whose supplier is in a suspended zone, until the Commission restores authorization.

The USA and Canada have been two of the countries most affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in recent years, with episodes that have led the EU to review its lists of authorized zones on a recurring basis. Chile has also recorded relevant episodes. This context makes continuous monitoring of these lists an operational necessity for any importer in the sector.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of live poultry from Canada, Chile or the USA.
• Importers of fertile eggs and other reproductive products of poultry from these three countries.
• Importers of fresh poultry meat and game birds originating in Canada, Chile or the USA.
• Logistics operators and customs agents who manage the clearance of these consignments at the EU border.
• Processing industries that depend on imported poultry supply from these countries for their production.
• Distributors and wholesalers in the agri-food sector with supply chains linked to these origins.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing fresh chicken meat regularly works with a supplier located in a region of the USA that, until now, was listed in the list of authorized zones of Annex XIV of Regulation 2021/404. Following the publication of Regulation 2026/1344 on 12 June 2026, that zone has been suspended due to an avian influenza outbreak.

Immediate result: any consignment arriving at the EU border with a certificate of origin in that zone will be rejected in the entry veterinary control. The company must, first, verify the status of its supplier's zone in the updated annexes of Regulation 2021/404. If the zone is suspended, it has two options: negotiate with the supplier for supply from an enabled zone in the same country, or find an alternative supplier in Canada, Chile or another authorized third country. In the meantime, its supply contracts may be compromised.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annexes V and XIV of Regulation 2021/404 to verify the exact status of your suppliers' zones in Canada, Chile and the USA. The official source is the text of Regulation 2026/1344 published in the OJEU.
2. Contact your suppliers in the three countries to confirm from which geographic zone they operate and whether that zone remains enabled to export to the EU.
3. Review health certificates of consignments in progress or pending clearance to ensure that the zonal origin remains valid.
4. Identify alternative suppliers in enabled zones, both within the three affected countries and in other authorized third countries, in case you need to activate a supply contingency plan.
5. Inform your customs agent of the regulatory change so that they apply the correct controls in the clearance of the next consignments.
6. Monitor future updates of the annexes of Regulation 2021/404, as these lists are reviewed on a recurring basis and may change again at any time.

Official source

Consult full regulation in 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_202601344