Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/227 of 26 January 2026 amending Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds
Date: 2026-01-26
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: Canada, England, Scotland, United Kingdom, United States, avian influenza, fresh meat, game meat, import (EU), poultry, poultrymeat, veterinary inspection








L_202600227EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/227


27.1.2026







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/227
of 26 January 2026
         
amending Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds
(Text with EEA relevance)


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1), and in particular Article 230(1), Article 232(1), point (b) and Article 232(3), point (b) thereof.

Whereas:







(1)


Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories are only to be allowed to enter into the Union if the third countries or territories concerned are listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation.












(2)


Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) lays down the animal health requirements that consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, from third countries, territories, or zones thereof, or compartments thereof in the case of aquaculture animals, must comply with in order to enter the Union.












(3)


Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) lays down the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof, from which the entry into the Union of the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, is permitted. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.












(4)


More particularly, Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof, authorised for the entry into the Union, respectively, of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds.












(5)


Canada has notified the Commission of two new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry in the province of Quebec, which were confirmed on 15 January 2026 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).












(6)


The United Kingdom has notified the Commission of four new outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the counties of Suffolk and Yorkshire, in England, and in the council area of Scottish Borders, in Scotland, which were confirmed between 13 January 2026 and 19 January 2026 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).












(7)


The United States has notified the Commission of four new outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the states of Colorado and Minnesota, which were confirmed between 14 January 2026 and 16 January 2026 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).












(8)


Following those recent outbreaks of HPAI, the veterinary authorities of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States established restricted zones of at least 10 km around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy to control the presence of HPAI and limit the spread of that disease.












(9)


Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on their respective territories and the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI following those recent HPAI outbreaks.












(10)


That information has been evaluated by the Commission. In view of the animal health situation in the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds from the areas concerned by the new outbreaks in those third countries should be suspended in order to protect the animal health status of the Union, taking into account the dates when the outbreaks were confirmed. Therefore, the entries for Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States in the tables set out in Section B of Part 1 and in Part 2 of Annex V, and the table set out in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be amended accordingly.












(11)


In addition, the United Kingdom has provided updated information to the Commission in relation to the epidemiological situation on its territory as regards earlier outbreaks of HPAI that gave rise to the suspension of the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds, as set out in the table in Section B of Part 1 of Annex V, and in the table in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404.












(12)


On 15 January 2026, 20 January 2026, and 21 January 2026, the United Kingdom submitted updated information on the animal health situation and the measures it has taken in relation to three outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the counties of Norfolk, North Yorkshire and Worcestershire, in England, which were confirmed on 7 November 2025 and 8 November 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).












(13)


The United Kingdom has informed the Commission that, following those earlier outbreaks of HPAI, it has implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease, and it has also completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection following the implementation of the stamping out policy in the infected poultry establishments.












(14)


The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by the United Kingdom, and considers that it has provided appropriate guarantees that the animal health situation that had given rise to the suspension of the entry of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds into the Union from the affected zones, as set out in the table in Section B of Part 1 of Annex V, and in the table in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, no longer represents a threat to animal or public health in the Union, and that, consequently, the entry into the Union of those consignments from the affected zones of the United Kingdom, from which entry into the Union had been suspended, should be re-authorised. Therefore, the entries for the United Kingdom in those tables in those Annexes should be amended accordingly.












(15)


Taking into account the new HPAI outbreaks in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption in trade with the United Kingdom, the amendments to be made to Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.












(16)


The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.


Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 26 January 2026.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.

(2)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 379, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/692/oj).

(3)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 114, 31.3.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/404/oj).




ANNEX
Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021.404 are amended as follows:






(1)


Annex V is amended as follows:






(a)


in Part 1, Section B is amended as follows:






(i)


in the entry for Canada, the following rows for the zones CA-2.326 and CA-2.327 are added after the row for the zone CA-2.325:











‘CA

Canada


CA-2.326


BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, HER, HE-LT20


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




CA-2.327


N, P1


 


15.1.2026’


 














(ii)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the row for the zone GB-2.416 is replaced by the following:











‘GB

United Kingdom


GB-2.416


BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, HER, HE-LT20


N, P1


 


7.11.2025


20.1.2026’














(iii)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zones GB-2.418 and GB-2.419 are replaced by the following:











‘GB

United Kingdom


GB-2.418


BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, HER, HE-LT20


N, P1


 


7.11.2025


21.1.2026




GB-2.419


N, P1


 


8.11.2025


15.1.2026’














(iv)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zones GB-2.460 to GB-2.463 are added after the row for the zone GB-2.459:











‘GB

United Kingdom


GB-2.460


BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, HER, HE-LT20


N, P1


 


13.1.2026


 




GB-2.461


N, P1


 


13.1.2026


 




GB-2.462


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GB-2.463


N, P1


 


19.1.2026’


 














(v)


in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.1237 to US-2.1240 are added after the row for the zone US-2.1236:











‘US

United States


US-2.1237


BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, HER, HE-LT20


N, P1


 


14.1.2026


 




US-2.1238


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




US-2.1239


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




US-2.1240


N, P1


 


16.1.2026’


 


















(b)


Part 2 is amended as follows:






(i)


in the entry for Canada, the following descriptions of the zones CA-2.326 and CA-2.327 are added after the row for the zone CA-2.325:







‘Canada


CA-2.326


Quebec – Latitude 46.03, Longitude -72.08
The municipalities involved are:
3km PZ: Arthabaska, Saint-Albert, Sainte- Clotilde-de-Horton, Saint-Samuel, Saint-Valère
10km SZ: Arthabaska, Saint-Albert, Saint-Christophe-d'Arthabaska, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Sainte-Eulalie, Sainte-Séraphine, Saint-Rosaire, Saint-Samuel, Saint-Valère, Victoriaville, and Warwick




CA-2.327


Quebec – Latitude 45.25, Longitude -73.47
The municipalities involved are:
3km PZ: Les-Jardins-de-Napierville, Napierville, Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, and Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur
10km SZ: Les-Jardins-de-Napierville, Napierville, Saint-Blaise-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, Saint-Édouard, Saint-Valentin, Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur, Saint-Jeansur-Richelieu, Saint-Mathieu, Saint-Michel, Saint-Philippe, Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, and Saint-Valentin’














(ii)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the following descriptions of the zones GB-2.460 to GB-2.463 are added after the description of the zone GB-2.459:







‘United Kingdom


GB-2.460


near York, Yorkshire, England, GB
the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N53.92 and Long: W1.06




GB-2.461


near Penicuik, Scottish Borders, Scotland, GB
the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N55.76 and Long: W3.21




GB-2.462


near York, Yorkshire, England, GB
the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N53.93 and Long: W0.94




GB-2.463


near Bacton, Mid Suffolk, Suffolk, England, GB
the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N52.27 and Long: E0.98’














(iii)


in the entry for the United States, the following descriptions of the zones US-2.1237 to US-2.1240 are added after the description of the zone US-2.1236:







‘United States


US-2.1237


State of Colorado
Logan 01
Logan County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 103.3725733°W 40.5760000°N)




US-2.1238


State of Minnesota
Stearns 28
Stearns County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 94.7810157°W 45.8168730°N)




US-2.1239


State of Minnesota
Meeker 22
Meeker County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 94.7355080°W 45.2254718°N)




US-2.1240


State of Minnesota
Meeker 23
Meeker County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 94.6698436°W 45.3284092°N)’






















(2)


in Annex XIV, in Part 1, Section B is amended as follows:






(a)


in the entry for Canada, the following rows for the zones CA-2.326 and CA-2.327 are added after the row for the zone CA-2.325:











‘CA

Canada


CA-2.326


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


15.1.2026


 




CA-2.327


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


15.1.2026’


 














(b)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the row for the zone GB-2.416 is replaced by the following:











‘GB

United Kingdom


GB-2.416


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


7.11.2025


20.1.2026




GBM


P1


 


7.11.2025


20.1.2026’














(c)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zones GB-2.418 and GB-2.419 are replaced by the following:











‘GB

United Kingdom


GB-2.418


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


7.11.2025


21.1.2026




GBM


P1


 


7.11.2025


21.1.2026




GB-2.419


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


8.11.2025


15.1.2026




GBM


P1


 


8.11.2025


15.1.2026’














(d)


in the entry for the United Kingdom, the following rows for the zones GB-2.460 to GB-2.463 are added after the row for the zone GB-2.459:











‘GB

United Kingdom


GB-2.460


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


13.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


13.1.2026


 




GB-2.461


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


13.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


13.1.2026


 




GB-2.462


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GB-2.463


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


19.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


19.1.2026’


 














(e)


in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.1237 to US-2.1240 are added after the row for the zone US-2.1236:











‘US

United States


US-2.1237


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


14.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


14.1.2026


 




US-2.1238


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


15.1.2026


 




US-2.1239


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


15.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


15.1.2026


 




US-2.1240


POU, RAT


N, P1


 


16.1.2026


 




GBM


P1


 


16.1.2026’


 















ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/227/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)