(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories are only to be allowed to enter into the Union if the third countries or territories concerned are listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) lays down the animal health requirements that consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, from third countries, territories, or zones thereof, or compartments thereof in the case of aquaculture animals, must comply with in order to enter the Union.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) lays down the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof, from which the entry into the Union of the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, is permitted. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.

(4)

More particularly, Annexes XIV and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof, authorised for the entry into the Union, respectively, of consignments of fresh meat of poultry and game birds, and of meat products from ungulates, poultry and game birds.

(5)

Following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry in the province of Buenos Aires, which was confirmed on 23 February 2026, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/520 (4) amended, inter alia, the entries for Argentina in the table in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, thereby suspending the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of poultry and game birds from that country. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/520 also included, in the entries for Argentina in the table in Section A of Part 1 of Annex XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, the requirement that consignments of meat products from poultry are only to be allowed entry into the Union if those meat products have undergone a specific risk-mitigating treatment ‘D’ in accordance with Annex XXVI to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692.

(6)

On 29 April 2026, 20 May 2026, and 26 May 2026 Argentina submitted updated information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to the outbreak of HPAI in poultry confirmed on 23 February 2026 and three additional outbreaks on its territory, and the measures it has taken to prevent the further spread of that disease. In particular, following those outbreaks of HPAI, Argentina has implemented a stamping out policy to control and limit the spread of that disease, cleaning and disinfection following the implementation of the stamping out policy in the affected establishments, and a surveillance programme demonstrating the absence of infection in the populations at risk.

(7)

The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by Argentina and concluded that it has provided appropriate guarantees that the animal health situation that had given rise to the suspension of the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of poultry and game birds as set out in the table in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, no longer represents a threat to animal or public health in the Union, and that, consequently, the entry into the Union of those consignments from Argentina may be re-authorised. In addition, the entry into the Union of consignments of meat products from poultry from Argentina should be subject to an assigned non-specific treatment ‘A’, and this requirement should be set out in column 10 of the table in Part 1, Section A of Annex XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

(8)

Annexes XIV and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,