25 February 2026: Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Argentina
Updated 27 February 2026
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OVS note number: 2026/09
Date: 25 February 2026
Purpose
To inform you that imports of the following commodities from Argentina are suspended due to a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI):
- fresh poultry, ratite and wild game bird meat produced on or after 23 February 2026
- meat products from poultry, ratites and wild game birds that have not been subject to treatment ‘D’ or higher (i.e. treatments ‘D’, ‘C’ or ‘B’, as defined in Annex 1)
Background
Argentina have notified WOAH of a case of HPAI, which was confirmed on 23 February 2026. This outbreak was located on a commercial poultry farm in the province of Buenos Aires: WAHIS.
We do not currently have a regionalisation agreement with Argentina for HPAI and, as such, the whole territory of Argentina is no longer considered free from HPAI.
To mitigate against the risk of HPAI, the UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance amended its third country listings on 25 February 2026 to suspend imports of the following commodities from the whole territory of Argentina:
- fresh meat of poultry, farmed ratites and wild game birds produced on or after 23 February 2026. This has been achieved through the insertion of a closing date of 23/02/2026 in column 6A of Argentina’s entry for fresh poultry meat (POU), wild game bird meat (WGM) and farmed ratite meat (RAT) in the Poultry and Poultry Products third country listing. Imports of fresh poultry, farmed ratite and wild game bird meat produced before 23 February 2026 are still permitted.
- meat products of poultry, farmed ratites and wild game birds that have not been subject to at least heat treatment ‘D’. Treatment ‘D’ requires that products are subject to ‘a minimum temperature of 70°C which must be reached throughout the meat and/or stomachs, bladders and intestines during the processing of meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines. This has been achieved through the application of treatment ‘D’ in column 7 of Argentina’s entry in the Meat Products third country listing.
The eggs (E), egg products (EP) and specified pathogen-free eggs (SPF) certificates include assurances to address the risk of introduction of HPAI, therefore closing dates have not been applied to these commodities in the Poultry and Poultry Products third country listing.
Contact point for enquiries
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
Imports and EU Trade Team
Annex 1
Meat products intended for human consumption – acceptable risk mitigating treatments
See (Annex II, Part 4 of Assimilated Decision 2007/777).
B) Treatment in a hermetically sealed container to an Fo value of 3 or more.
C) A minimum temperature of 80°C which must be reached throughout the meat and/or stomachs, bladders and intestines during the processing of the meat product and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines.
D) A minimum temperature of 70°C which must be reached throughout the meat and/or stomachs, bladders and intestines during the processing of meat products and treated stomachs, bladders and intestines.