30 March 2026: Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Chile
Updated 1 April 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/30-march-2026-outbreak-of-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-in-chile
OVS note number: 2026/21
Date: 30 March 2026
Purpose
To inform you that imports of the following commodities from the Chilean province of Talagante 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 24 March 2026
- meat products from poultry, ratites and wild game birds that have not been subject to treatment ‘D’ or higher (that is, treatments ‘D’, ‘C’ or ‘B’, as defined in Annex 1)
- live poultry and ratites, including day-old chicks
- hatching eggs of poultry and ratites
Background
In 2023, Defra agreed to recognise regionalisation in Chile at the province level in the event of an outbreak of HPAI.
On 26 March 2026, Chile reported an outbreak of HPAI in a commercial poultry farm, affecting laying birds in the province of Talagante.
Chile have since communicated that this outbreak was confirmed on 24 March 2026.
OVS note 2026/20 was issued on 26 March 2026 notifying of the outbreak and requesting that commercial imports of susceptible commodities from the province of Talagante in Chile be held while import restrictions were implemented to mitigate the risk of HPAI.
The UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance amended its approved country listings on 30 March 2026 to suspend imports of the following commodities from the Chilean province of Talagante:
- fresh poultry (POU), ratite (RAT) and wild game bird (WGM) meat produced on or after 24 March 2026
- meat products of poultry, ratites and wild game birds that have not been subject to specific treatment ‘D’, ‘C’ or ‘B’ (as set out in Annex 1)
- live poultry and ratites, including day-old chicks (BPP, BPR, DOC, DOR, SRP, SRA and LT20)
- hatching eggs of poultry and ratites (HEP, HER and LT20)
These restrictions are set out in the ‘poultry and poultry products’ and ‘meat products’ lists, which should be read in conjunction with the List of HPAI zones in Chile document.
Imports of the commodities listed above from HPAI-free provinces in Chile are unaffected by these restrictions and can continue as normal, provided all other import conditions are met.
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.