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Date: 2026-01-21 Category: Not Applicable State: Union Government Country: Europe

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/173 of 20 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

Issued by European Commission · Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/173, dated January 20, 2026, amends Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404. The changes concern the listing of third countries, territories, or zones authorized for the entry of poultry, germinal products, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds into the Union, specifically impacting Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This regulation takes effect the day following its publication. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Amendments to Annex V (Poultry and Germinal Products)** * **Canada:** Restrictions are lifted for certain zones (CA-2.292, CA-2.293, CA-2.295, CA-2.307, CA-2.318) from which entry was previously suspended. The new authorization is valid until 14.1.2026 for CA-2.292 and CA-2.293, until 10.1.2026 for CA-2.295, CA-2.307 and CA-2.318. * **United Kingdom:** Restrictions are lifted for zone GB-2.421 until 13.1.2026. New restrictions are imposed for zones GB-2.456 (valid from 31.12.2025), GB-2.457 (valid from 5.1.2026), GB-2.458 (valid from 8.1.2026) and GB-2.459 (valid from 11.1.2026). * **United States:** New restrictions are imposed for zones US-2.1218 (valid from 29.12.2025) to US-2.1236 (valid from 13.1.2026). * **Amendments to Annex XIV (Fresh Meat of Poultry and Game Birds)** * **Canada:** Restrictions are lifted for certain zones (CA-2.292, CA-2.293, CA-2.295, CA-2.307, CA-2.318) from which entry was previously suspended. The new authorization is valid until 14.1.2026 for CA-2.292 and CA-2.293, until 10.1.2026 for CA-2.295, CA-2.307 and CA-2.318. * **United Kingdom:** Restrictions are lifted for zone GB-2.421 until 13.1.2026. New restrictions are imposed for zones GB-2.456 (valid from 31.12.2025), GB-2.457 (valid from 5.1.2026), GB-2.458 (valid from 8.1.2026) and GB-2.459 (valid from 11.1.2026). * **United States:** New restrictions are imposed for zones US-2.1218 (valid from 29.12.2025) to US-2.1236 (valid from 13.1.2026). **Impact Analysis** **Canada** * **Impact:** Producers in previously restricted zones (CA-2.292, CA-2.293, CA-2.295, CA-2.307, CA-2.318) are now authorized to export poultry, germinal products, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds to the Union until 14.1.2026 for CA-2.292 and CA-2.293, until 10.1.2026 for CA-2.295, CA-2.307 and CA-2.318. * **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with relevant animal health requirements for export to the Union, including the correct zone designation. **United Kingdom** * **Impact:** Producers in previously restricted zone GB-2.421 are now authorized to export poultry, germinal products, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds to the Union until 13.1.2026. New outbreaks in the areas specified for zones GB-2.456, GB-2.457, GB-2.458, and GB-2.459 are no longer authorized for export. * **Action Required:** Producers in GB-2.421 should resume/continue exports in compliance. Producers in GB-2.456, GB-2.457, GB-2.458 and GB-2.459 must cease exports of specified products to the Union. **United States** * **Impact:** Producers in the new restricted zones (US-2.1218 to US-2.1236) are no longer authorized to export poultry, germinal products, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds to the Union until the period in which their corresponding restrictions apply. * **Action Required:** Producers in US-2.1218 to US-2.1236 must cease exports of specified products to the Union until the period in which their corresponding restrictions apply.

Key Entities Referenced

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404: Regulation laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted. United Kingdom: One of the third countries for which Annexes V and XIV of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 are amended. United States: One of the third countries for which Annexes V and XIV of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 are amended. Canada: One of the third countries for which Annexes V and XIV of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 are amended. Regulation (EU) 2016/429: Regulation on transmissible animal diseases (Animal Health Law).
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Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/173 21.1.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION(EU) 2026/173 of 20 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) The United Kingdom has notified the Commission of four new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry in the county of Nottinghamshire, in England, and in the council areas of Perth and Kinross and Scottish Borders, in Scotland, which were confirmed between 31 December 2025 and 11 January 2026 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR). (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). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/oj 1/9EN OJ L, 21.1.2026 (6) The United States has notified the Commission of 19 new outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the states of Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, which were confirmed between 29 December 2025 and 13 January 2026 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR). (7) Following those recent outbreaks of HPAI, the veterinary authorities of 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. (8) 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. (9) 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 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 those third countries 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. (10) In addition, Canada and the United Kingdom have provided updated information to the Commission in relation to the epidemiological situation on their respective territories 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. (11) On 15 December 2025, 6 January 2026, and 12 January 2026, Canada submitted updated information on the animal health situation and the measures it has taken in relation to five outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, which were confirmed between 22 October 2025 and 1 December 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR). (12) On 13 January 2026, the United Kingdom submitted updated information on the animal health situation and the measures it has taken in relation to an outbreak of HPAI in poultry in the council area of South Lanarkshire, in Scotland, which was confirmed on 12 November 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR). (13) Canada and the United Kingdom have informed the Commission that, following those earlier outbreaks of HPAI, they have implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease, and they have 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 Canada and the United Kingdom, and considers that they have 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 Canada and the United Kingdom, from which entry into the Union had been suspended, should be re-authorised. Therefore, the entries for Canada and the United Kingdom in those tables in those Annexes should be amended accordingly. (15) Taking into account the new HPAI outbreaks in the United Kingdom and the United States, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption in trade with Canada and 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. 2/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/ojEN OJ L, 21.1.2026 (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, 20 January 2026. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/oj 3/9EN OJ L, 21.1.2026 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 rows for the zones CA-2.292 and CA-2.293 are replaced by the following: CA-2.292 N, P1 22.10.2025 14.1.2026 BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, ‘CA SP, SR, POU-LT20, Canada CA-2.293 HEP, HER, HE-LT20 N, P1 22.10.2025 14.1.2026’; (ii) in the entry for Canada, the row for the zone CA-2.295 is replaced by the following: BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, ‘CA CA-2.295 SP, SR, POU-LT20, N, P1 28.10.2025 10.1.2026’; Canada HEP, HER, HE-LT20 (iii) in the entry for Canada, the row for the zone CA-2.307 is replaced by the following: BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, ‘CA CA-2.307 SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, N, P1 12.11.2025 10.1.2026’; Canada HER, HE-LT20 (iv) in the entry for Canada, the row for the zone CA-2.318 is replaced by the following: BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, ‘CA CA-2.318 SP, SR, POU-LT20, N, P1 1.12.2025 10.1.2025’; Canada HEP, HER, HE-LT20 (v) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the row for the zone GB-2.421 is replaced by the following: ‘GB BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, United GB-2.421 SP, SR, POU-LT20, N, P1 12.11.2025 13.1.2026’; Kingdom HEP, HER, HE-LT20 (vi) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zones GB-2.456 to GB-2.459 are added after the row for the zone GB-2.455: GB-2.456 N, P1 31.12.2025 ‘GB GB-2.457 BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, N, P1 5.1.2026 United SP, SR, POU-LT20, HEP, Kingdom GB-2.458 HER, HE-LT20 N, P1 8.1.2026 GB-2.459 N, P1 11.1.2026’; 4/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/ojEN OJ L, 21.1.2026 (vii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.1218 to US-2.1236 are added after the row for the zone US-2.1217: US-2.1218 N, P1 29.12.2025 US-2.1219 N, P1 8.1.2026 US-2.1220 N, P1 31.12.2025 US-2.1221 N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1222 N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1223 N, P1 6.1.2026 US-2.1224 N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1225 N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1226 N, P1 2.1.2026 ‘US BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, United US-2.1227 SP, SR, POU-LT20, N, P1 2.1.2026 States HEP, HER, HE-LT20 US-2.1228 N, P1 7.1.2026 US-2.1229 N, P1 5.1.2026 US-2.1230 N, P1 6.1.2026 US-2.1231 N, P1 9.1.2026 US-2.1232 N, P1 9.1.2026 US-2.1233 N, P1 12.1.2026 US-2.1234 N, P1 12.1.2026 US-2.1235 N, P1 13.1.2026 US-2.1236 N, P1 13.1.2026’; (b) Part 2 is amended as follows: (i) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the following descriptions of the zones GB-2.456 to GB-2.459 are added after the description of the zone GB-2.455: near Newark-on-Trent, Newark and Sherwood, England, GB GB-2.456 the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N53.09 and Long: W0.90 near Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, GB GB-2.457 the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N56.72 and Long: W3.43 ‘United Kingdom near Newark-on-Trent, Newark and Sherwood, England, GB GB-2.458 the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N53.12 and Long: W0.77 near Penicuik, Scottish Borders, Scotland, GB GB-2.459 the area contained with a circle of a radius of 10 km, centred on WGS84 dec, coordinates Lat: N52.13 and Long: E1.28’; ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/oj 5/9EN OJ L, 21.1.2026 (ii) in the entry for the United States, the following descriptions of the zones US-2.1218 to US-2.1236 are added after the description of the zone US-2.1217: State of Pennsylvania Lancaster 48 US-2.1218 Lancaster County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 76.2182181°W 40.2966908°N) State of Pennsylvania Lehigh 09 US-2.1219 Lehigh County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 75.5374499°W 40.6342488°N) State of Nebraska Butler 03 US-2.1220 Butler County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 97.1516427°W 41.2963652°N) State of Kansas Nemaha 01 US-2.1221 Nemaha County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 96.0246418°W 39.9602633°N) State of Kansas Anderson 03 US-2.1222 Anderson County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 95.3777451°W 38.4564845°N) State of Kansas Pottawatomie 02 US-2.1223 ‘United States Pottawatomie County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 96.4404324°W 39.3243821°N) State of Arkansas Prairie 02 US-2.1224 Prairie County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 91.4135664°W 34.6979697°N) State of California Butte 05 US-2.1225 Butte County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 121.6220145°W 39.4683346°N) State of New York Queens 20 US-2.1226 Queens County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 73.8110491°W 40.7686723°N) State of North Carolina Sampson 03 US-2.1227 Sampson County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 78.3671020°W 35.0527509°N) State of North Carolina Sampson 04 US-2.1228 Sampson County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 78.2970334°W 35.0024484°N) 6/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/ojEN OJ L, 21.1.2026 State of Missouri Texas 01 US-2.1229 Texas County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 91.7962470°W 37.5354452°N) State of Indiana LaGrange 67 US-2.1230 LaGrange County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 85.5918894°W 41.6873614°N) State of New York Bronx 05 US-2.1231 Bronx County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 73.8531701°W 40.9190500°N) State of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 03 US-2.1232 Philadelphia County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 75.1068985°W 40.0789418°N) State of Kansas Pratt 01 US-2.1233 Pratt County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 98.7984492°W 37.8431137°N) State of Minnesota Meeker 21 US-2.1234 Meeker County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 94.7544608°W 45.3591599°N) State of Delaware Kent 08 US-2.1235 Kent County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 75.3664130°W 39.0923244°N) State of Georgia Walker 01 US-2.1236 Walker County: A circular zone of a 10 km radius starting with North point (GPS coordinates: 85.1349257°W 34.7294249°N)’; (2) in Annex XIV, in Part 1, Section B is amended as follows: (a) in the entry for Canada, the rows for the zones CA-2.292 and CA-2.293 are replaced by the following: POU, RAT N, P1 22.10.2025 14.1.2026 CA-2.292 GBM P1 22.10.2025 14.1.2026 ‘CA Canada POU, RAT N, P1 22.10.2025 14.1.2026 CA-2.293 GBM P1 22.10.2025 14.1.2026’; (b) in the entry for Canada, the row for the zone CA-2.295 is replaced by the following: POU, RAT N, P1 28.10.2025 10.1.2026 ‘CA CA-2.295 Canada GBM P1 28.10.2025 10.1.2026’; ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/oj 7/9EN OJ L, 21.1.2026 (c) in the entry for Canada, the row for the zone CA-2.307 is replaced by the following: POU, RAT N, P1 12.11.2025 10.1.2026 ‘CA CA-2.307 Canada GBM P1 12.11.2025 10.1.2026’; (d) in the entry for Canada, the row for the zone CA-2.318 is replaced by the following: POU, RAT N, P1 1.12.2025 10.1.2025 ‘CA CA-2.318 Canada GBM P1 1.12.2025 10.1.2025’; (e) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the row for the zone GB-2.421 is replaced by the following: ‘GB POU, RAT N, P1 12.11.2025 13.1.2026 United GB-2.421 Kingdom GBM P1 12.11.2025 13.1.2026’; (f) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the following rows for the zones GB-2.456 to GB-2.459 are added after the row for the zone GB-2.455: POU, RAT N, P1 31.12.2025 GB-2.456 GBM P1 31.12.2025 POU, RAT N, P1 5.1.2026 GB-2.457 ‘GB GBM P1 5.1.2026 United Kingdom POU, RAT N, P1 8.1.2026 GB-2.458 GBM P1 8.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 11.1.2026 GB-2.459 GBM P1 11.1.2026’; (g) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.1218 to US-2.1236 are added after the row for the zone US-2.1217: POU, RAT N, P1 29.12.2025 US-2.1218 GBM P1 29.12.2025 POU, RAT N, P1 8.1.2026 US-2.1219 GBM P1 8.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 31.12.2025 US-2.1220 GBM P1 31.12.2025 ‘US POU, RAT N, P1 2.1.2026 United US-2.1221 States GBM P1 2.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1222 GBM P1 2.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 6.1.2026 US-2.1223 GBM P1 6.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1224 GBM P1 2.1.2026 8/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/ojEN OJ L, 21.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1225 GBM P1 2.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1226 GBM P1 2.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 2.1.2026 US-2.1227 GBM P1 2.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 7.1.2026 US-2.1228 GBM P1 7.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 5.1.2026 US-2.1229 GBM P1 5.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 6.1.2026 US-2.1230 GBM P1 6.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 9.1.2026 US-2.1231 GBM P1 9.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 9.1.2026 US-2.1232 GBM P1 9.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 12.1.2026 US-2.1233 GBM P1 12.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 12.1.2026 US-2.1234 GBM P1 12.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 13.1.2026 US-2.1235 GBM P1 13.1.2026 POU, RAT N, P1 13.1.2026 US-2.1236 GBM P1 13.1.2026’, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/173/oj 9/9

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