EU suspends poultry imports from six HPAI zones in Canada, the UK and the US

The European Union has suspended imports of live poultry, poultry germinal products and fresh poultry and game-bird meat from six specific zones in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States after highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in those areas, under zone-based rules that leave the rest of each country's trade open.

The measure is set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2268 of 7 October 2026, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 8 October 2026. It amends Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 — the EU lists of third countries, territories or zones authorised to send consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds, into the Union. The suspension applies only to the named zones, not to the three countries as a whole.

Annex V covers live poultry and poultry germinal products, which include hatching eggs, day-old chicks and genetic material. Annex XIV covers fresh meat of poultry and game birds. The six newly listed zones and their confirmation dates are recorded in the annexes as follows:

• Canada: zones CA-2.343 and CA-2.344 in Manitoba, confirmed 23 September 2026, and zone CA-2.345 in Alberta, confirmed 25 September 2026.
• United Kingdom: zone GB-2.471, in the Isle of Lewis area of Scotland, confirmed 2 October 2026.
• United States: zone US-2.1420, Stearns County, Minnesota, confirmed 28 September 2026, and zone US-2.1421, Jay County, Indiana, confirmed 30 September 2026.
• Zonal principle: because EU rules work zone by zone rather than country by country, poultry and poultry products from unaffected regions of Canada and the United States can keep moving into the EU market.
• Effect on the affected areas: producers inside the listed zones lose EU market access for live birds, germinal products and fresh meat until the zones are cleared and the suspension is lifted.

For buyers, the useful takeaway is that market access is now decided at zone level, and that certification and origin documents have to match the zone a consignment actually comes from. For suppliers, keeping declared origin, establishment approval and health certification aligned with the current zone lists is what prevents a shipment being rejected at the border.

Nau International Food Group supplies halal frozen poultry and frozen meat from HACCP-certified, GACC-registered plants, with halal certificates, veterinary health certificates and certificates of origin issued for each shipment. We arrange customs clearance and delivery into Dubai and onward distribution across the Gulf, Africa and Central Asia. For specifications, packing data and current offers, write to info@naufoodgroup.com.

Source: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2268 of 7 October 2026, Official Journal of the European Union, 8 October 2026 (EUR-Lex CELEX 32026R2268); zone listings from Annexes V and XIV.