HPAI: EU restrictions on imports of poultry and game bird meat and products from Argentina
- Animal health controls
Summary
Due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Buenos Aires region, the European Union (EU) has suspended imports of fresh meat and fresh meat products from Argentinian poultry and game birds. Poultry products from Argentina that have undergone a specific risk-mitigating treatment prior to export may still be imported into the EU.
HPAI: EU suspends fresh poultry meat imports and restricts imports of poultry products from Argentina
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1772 of 1 September 2025 amending Annexes V, XIV and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Argentina 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 of meat products from poultry
Update
Due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Buenos Aires region, the European Union (EU) has suspended imports of fresh meat and fresh meat products from Argentinian poultry and game birds. Poultry products from Argentina that have undergone a specific risk-mitigating treatment prior to export may still be imported into the EU.
Impacted Products
Poultry and game bird meat and products
What is changing?
Exports of fresh poultry and game bird meat and products from Argentina to the EU were suspended on 19 August 2025. The list of authorised countries in Regulation 2021/404 (Annex XIV, Part 1, Section B) has therefore been amended.
For poultry and game bird products, exports can continue if risk-mitigating treatment D is applied to the products (Regulation 2020/692, Annex XXVI).
Risk-mitigating treatment D:
- minimum temperature of 70°C, which must be reached throughout the meat
- water activity (Aw) value not more than 0.93
- pH value not more than 6.0.
Why?
On 25 August 2025, Argentina notified the EU of an outbreak of HPAI in poultry in the province of Buenos Aires (first identified on 19 August).
Timeline
From 3 September 2025, fresh meat from poultry and game birds may not be exported to the EU from Argentina.
Poultry and game bird products certified for export to the EU from Argentina after 18 August 2025 must have undergone specific risk-mitigating treatment.
Recommended Actions
Argentina has no guarantees that would allow for regionalisation (limiting the measures to affected regions within the country), so this suspension of authorisation concerns the whole country. Producers and exporters could engage with competent authorities to support the process of establishing guarantees that allow regionalisation.
Exporters should follow the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which gives rules for disease prevention, monitoring, and control.
Background
The EU Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429) establishes principles and rules for the prevention and control of certain diseases in animals kept by humans (including farm animals, fish, and aquaculture), wild animals, and animal products.
Delegated Regulation 2020/692 supplements Regulation 2016/429 regarding animal health requirements for exports to the EU. Non-EU countries (or part of their territories) wishing to export animal products to the EU must comply with the EU animal health requirements.
These countries or regions must be listed in Regulation 2021/404 for each commodity to be exported to the EU. The list is regularly updated, for example in the event of an outbreak of a notifiable disease, or if there is an improvement in the animal health situation in a country.
Argentina has faced this situation previously. In 2023 the EU suspended poultry and game bird imports from Argentina in response to HPAI, then reauthorised them after appropriate measures were taken.
Resources
Online resources from the European Commission:
- EU entry conditions
- Non-EU countries authorised establishments
- Welcome to Access2Markets to Trade Helpdesk users
World Organisation for Animal Health: Terrestrial Animal Health Code
The procedure for non-EU countries to apply for listing is described at the end of the following factsheets:
- European Union import conditions for poultry and poultry products
- EU import conditions for fresh meat and meat products
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 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
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 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
Sources
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1772 as regards the entries for Argentina 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 of meat products from poultry
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.
HPAI: EU suspends fresh poultry meat imports and restricts imports of poultry products from Argentina
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1772 as regards the entries for Argentina 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 of meat products from poultry
What is changing and why?
Following a confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Buenos Aires region, Argentina is no longer authorised to export fresh poultry and game bird meat to the European Union (EU). For poultry and game bird products, exports can continue if risk-mitigating treatment D is applied to the products.
Risk-mitigating treatment D:
- minimum temperature of 70°C, which must be reached throughout the meat
- water activity (Aw) value not more than 0.93
- pH value not more than 6.0.
Actions
Argentina has no guarantees that would allow for regionalisation (limiting the measures to affected regions within the country), so this suspension of authorisation concerns the whole country. Producers and exporters could engage with competent authorities to support the process of establishing guarantees that allow regionalisation.
Exporters should follow the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which gives rules for disease prevention, monitoring, and control.
Timeline
From 3 September 2025, fresh meat from poultry and game birds may not be exported to the EU from Argentina.
Poultry and game bird products certified for export to the EU from Argentina after 18 August 2025 must have undergone specific risk-mitigating treatment.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.