HPAI: EU restrictions on imports of poultry from Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Animal health
- Third country lists
Summary
Due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Buenos Aires region of Argentina and in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union (EU) has suspended imports of fresh poultry and its products from both countries (and of game bird meat from Argentina). Poultry products from both countries that have undergone a specific risk-mitigating treatment before export may still be imported into the EU.
HPAI: EU suspends imports of fresh poultry meat and restricts imports of poultry products from Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/520 of 4 March 2026 amending Annexes XIV and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of poultry and game birds and of meat products from poultry
Update
Due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Buenos Aires region of Argentina and in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union (EU) has suspended imports of fresh poultry and its products from both countries (and of game bird meat from Argentina). Poultry products from both countries that have undergone a specific risk-mitigating treatment before export may still be imported into the EU.
Impacted Products
Fresh poultry meat and game birds, and their products
What is changing?
Due to HPAI outbreaks in:
- Argentina (Buenos Aires province), confirmed on 23 February 2026
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (Petrovo municipality, Republika Srpska), confirmed on 25 February 2026
exports of fresh poultry and its products to the EU from these countries have been suspended since the dates given above.
Exports of poultry products can continue if risk-mitigating treatment D is applied (Regulation 2020/692, Annex XXVI):
- heat treatment of at least 70°C at core temperature
- water activity (Aw) value not more than 0.93
- pH value not more than 6.0.
The list of authorised countries in Regulation 2021/404 has therefore been amended (Annex XIV, Part 1, Section B for fresh meat; Annex XV, Part 1, Section A for processed products).
Why?
To protect animal health in the EU, and in response to emerging animal health risks in exporting countries, the European Commission regularly updates the list of non-EU countries authorised to export animal products.
Timeline
Argentina
From 23 February 2026:
- fresh meat of poultry and game birds may not be exported to the EU from Argentina; consignments certified before 23 February 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 24 May 2026
- poultry products certified for export to the EU from Argentina must have undergone specific risk-mitigating treatment.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
From 25 February 2026:
- fresh meat from poultry may not be exported to the EU from Bosnia and Herzegovina; consignments certified before 25 February 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 26 May 2026
- poultry products certified for export to the EU from Bosnia and Herzegovina must have undergone specific risk-mitigating treatment.
Recommended Actions
Animal health rules must be strictly applied by non-EU countries in order to be able to export animals and animal products to the EU while avoiding the spread of diseases. It is important that competent authorities and operators work together to monitor animal health and keep diseases under control.
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.
Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina have no guarantees that would allow for regionalisation (limiting the measures to affected regions within the country), so in each case 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.
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 the Animal Health Law 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. (See Lists of non-EU countries for public health and animal health – explained.)
Resources
Online resources from the European Commission:
- EU entry conditions
- Non-EU countries authorised establishments
- Access2Markets: Exporting from the EU, importing into the EU – all you need to know
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) 2026/520 as regards the entries for Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of poultry and game birds 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 imports of fresh poultry meat and restricts imports of poultry products from Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/520 as regards the entries for Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of poultry and game birds and of meat products from poultry
What is changing and why?
Following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Argentina’s Buenos Aires region and in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska, both countries are no longer authorised to export fresh poultry meat (and of game bird meat from Argentina) to the European Union (EU).
For poultry products, exports can continue if risk-mitigating treatment D is applied to the products:
- heat treatment of at least 70°C at core temperature
- water activity (Aw) value not more than 0.93
- pH value not more than 6.0.
Actions
Animal health rules must be strictly applied by non-EU countries in order to be able to export animals and animal products to the EU while avoiding the spread of diseases. It is important that competent authorities and operators work together to monitor animal health and keep diseases under control. Exporters should follow the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), where rules can be found for each disease.
Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina have no guarantees that would allow for regionalisation (limiting the measures to affected regions within the country), so in each case 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.
Timeline
Argentina
From 23 February 2026:
- fresh meat of poultry and game birds may not be exported to the EU from Argentina; consignments certified before 23 February 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 24 May 2026
- poultry products certified for export to the EU from Argentina must have undergone specific risk-mitigating treatment.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
From 25 February 2026:
- fresh meat from poultry may not be exported to the EU from Bosnia and Herzegovina; consignments certified before 25 February 2026 are permitted onto the EU market until 26 May 2026
- poultry products certified for export to the EU from Bosnia and Herzegovina 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.