Import Restrictions Updated as Bird Flu Outbreak Hits US and Chile

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Eight new restricted zones added for the US, and one for Chile. The measure also clears Canada following British Columbia outbreak

April 13th, 2026 – A new Implementing Regulation published today amends Annexes V and XIV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, which lists the third countries, territories, and zones from which the EU authorises imports of poultry, poultry reproductive material, and fresh poultry and game meat. The new amendment does three things simultaneously, adding new restricted zones for the US and Chile following recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in both countries, and lifts a previous restriction on a Canadian zone following successful disease control efforts.

For the United States, the Regulation adds eight new restricted zones, four in Indiana (LaGrange and Elkhart counties), one in Pennsylvania (Lancaster County), one in New Jersey (Hunterdon County), and two in New York (Kings and Bronx counties). These zones correspond to eight HPAI outbreaks confirmed between 24 and 31 March 2026. Each of these zones covers a 10-kilometer radius around the affected establishments.

For Chile, one new restricted zone is added, covering the commune of San Rafael in the Province of Talca, Maule Region, following another outbreak confirmed on 29 March 2026.

Imports of poultry, reproductive material, and fresh poultry meat from these zones are suspended with effect from the respective outbreak confirmation dates.

Finally, for Canada, zone CA-2.329 in British Columbia, which had been restricted since an outbreak was confirmed in 24 February 2026, is reinstated for imports as of 2 April 2026. This comes after Canada succesfully demostrated to the Commission that the affected establishment had completed culling and the required cleaning and disinfection procedures.

Javier Iglesias
Javier Iglesiashttp://theunionreport.eu
Javier Iglesias holds an MA in International Studies and a BA in History, graduating with Honours from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. He has previously worked in Brussels, at the International Office of the CEU Foundation, where he worked parallel to the work of the Union's institutions, most notably parliament. He also worked at the Spanish Embassy in Ankara, where he was involved in regulatory and political monitoring and reporting. He founded The Union Report in January 2026 while preparing for the Spanish diplomatic corps entrance examination, originally as a structured way to build and organise his own knowledge of EU regulatory output. What began as personal study notes has since grown into a publication open to anyone, including students, legal practitioners, or simply citizens trying to make sense of what Brussels actually produces.

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