What's New ? - 2026

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has announced two significant regulatory enforcement measures aimed at safeguarding biosecurity and protecting domestic consumers within the poultry sector. Effective August 4, 2026, Rosselkhoznadzor implemented enhanced laboratory monitoring for products originating from two major Chinese poultry suppliers, Heilongjiang Chia Tai and Heilongjiang Grand Forest. The heightened inspection regimen follows the detection of biological and chemical contaminants, including Salmonella, Listeria, and residual traces of metronidazole, in shipments of minced chicken, offal, and poultry cuts. Rather than enacting a full import ban, Russian authorities have opted for mandatory, rigorous testing protocols. This decision comes during a period of rapidly expanding bilateral trade, with Chinese poultry exports to Russia rising from $175.4 million in 2025 to $104.3 million in the first half of 2026 alone.

The Flemish poultry flock reached an all-time high of 47.4 million birds in 2025, according to new figures from Statistics Flanders (Statistiek Vlaanderen). While pig and cattle populations in Flanders continue to shrink under strict environmental policies and economic pressure, the poultry sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by robust consumer demand and strong profitability.  Over two decades, the Flemish poultry population expanded by nearly 56%, up from 30.4 million in 2005. Broiler chicken numbers surged by 82%, while the laying hen population grew by roughly 25%.

Growing concerns over agricultural antimicrobial misuse have prompted calls for stricter biosafety and import controls on livestock products entering the United Kingdom. Agricultural leaders and veterinary public health advocates are pressing the UK government to mirror European Union biosecurity safeguards by imposing precautionary import bans on Brazilian beef and poultry unless verifiable standards on antibiotic stewardship are demonstrated. The push follows European Commission oversight under Regulation (EU) 2019/6 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905, which mandate that all third-country animal product exporters adhere to strict antimicrobial restrictions.

A nationwide life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted in the UK and published in Royal Society Open Science challenges the prevailing assumption that animal welfare-driven policy shifts inherently align with ecological sustainability. While consumer preference and regulatory trends increasingly push for a transition away from caged housing toward free-range and organic egg production, the study demonstrates that extensive housing systems, and organic farming in particular, carry a significantly higher environmental footprint per unit of output than intensified, cage-based operations.

The President of Brazil has signed into law a comprehensive federal ban prohibiting the production, sale, and importation of foie gras across the country. The sweeping legislation effectively outlaws both the domestic force-feeding of geese and ducks and the commercial distribution of foreign-made liver products within Brazilian territory.The legislative move has sparked considerable pushback from the French government, which regards foie gras as an integral component of its national culinary and cultural heritage. France exerted diplomatic pressure to prevent the enactment of the law, arguing that its production follows regulated procedures and contending that the ban undermines international trade agreements and culinary traditions.

Large poultry producers in the European Union are subject to updated requirements under the revised Industrial Emissions Directive (IED 2.0) (Directive (EU) 2024/1785), which entered into force in August 2024. The revised directive was introduced to harmonize environmental performance standards across Member States for large-scale intensive pig and poultry farms. The directive aims to reduce industrial emissions, including ammonia, methane, and nitrogen oxides, while improving resource efficiency, water management, and circularity within these intensive production systems.

The European Commission has officially launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of Pekin duck from China following a formal complaint submitted in May by five EU producers, according to Euractiv. The investigation will examine import data covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. In their complaint, the European producers argue that duck production in China is subject to significant market distortions resulting from extensive state intervention.

Professor Ian Brown, the former Director of Science Operations & Research at the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), has been awarded the Gold Medal at the 93rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The international honor recognizes his decades-long contributions to avian, swine, and human influenza research. The WOAH Gold Medal is among the highest distinctions in international veterinary medicine. It is awarded to individuals whose scientific contributions have had a profound impact on global animal health. Professor Brown's scientific career is defined by twenty-five years of leadership at APHA's Weybridge laboratory. Between 1999 and 2024, he directed the WOAH Reference Laboratories for avian influenza, swine influenza, and Newcastle disease.

A civil antitrust lawsuit, jointly filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and a bipartisan coalition of 17 state attorneys general, accuses Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's Egg Ranch of conspiring to manipulate wholesale egg prices. According to federal investigators, the companies secretly coordinated their bidding activities between June 2022 and March 2025. They allegedly flooded the spot market with numerous artificially high bids to create the false appearance of surging demand. This coordinated conduct directly influenced the daily price index published by market reporting agency Urner Barry. Because contracts covering billions of eggs nationwide are directly linked to this benchmark, the artificial inflation of wholesale prices was rapidly passed on to supermarkets, commercial food service operators, and consumers. 

Major integrators and exporters within Brazil’s poultry sector have launched an unprecedented "front-loading" operation over recent weeks, scrambling to maximize frozen poultry shipments to the European Union before September 3, 2026. This critical deadline marks the enforcement of EU Implementing Regulation 2026/1189, which is set to remove Brazil from the list of authorized third countries approved for the import of various animal products into the Union. Port and trade-tracking data in Brazil reveal a sharp spike in EU-bound poultry volumes compared to the same period last year. This widespread stockpiling strategy is being executed in close coordination between Brazilian agribusiness giants and European distributors.

The Italian poultry supply chain continues to expand, reinforcing its strategic role in the country's economy and food security. Data presented by Unaitalia, the association representing poultry and egg producers, at its Members' Meeting held in Bologna highlight a robust and competitive sector well positioned to meet consumer demand in 2025. National poultry production increased by 1.73% compared with 2024, while per capita consumption reached a record 22.47 kg (+1.91%), confirming poultry's central role in Italians' dietary habits. Today, nine out of ten Italians consume poultry, and the sector accounts for 44% of total household meat purchases. This increase in consumption has been accompanied by a high level of production self-sufficiency (105.1%), enabling the sector to make a substantial contribution to the stability of the national food supply.

An extreme heatwave known as an "Omega block," which is currently battering Western Europe and breaking historical temperature records, has dealt a devastating blow to the French agricultural sector. Major poultry industry organizations report mass mortality events claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of birds within a matter of days. The sudden surge has overwhelmed carcass disposal systems, creating an acute epidemiological and environmental emergency. 

The European Union has officially finalized its decision to remove Brazil from the list of third countries authorized to export a wide range of animal products to the bloc, effective September 3, 2026. Driven by stringent public health policies, the United Kingdom, which has pursued close regulatory alignment with the EU on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) matters since its exit from the bloc, is highly expected to mirror these restrictions and has already requested compliance assurances from Brasília by September 2. The suspension strikes a massive blow to Brazil's agricultural sector, affecting exports of poultry meat, eggs, beef, horse meat, aquaculture products, honey, and animal casings. Economists project that the enforcement of these measures could result in losses reaching up to $2 billion for Brazil. The timing is particularly critical for the beef sector; data indicates that Brazilian containerized beef exports to the UK had surged by 49% in the first four months of 2025 alone.

According to a comprehensive national surveillance report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in raw retail meat (2022–2023), published by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the public health risk associated with AMR bacteria transmitted via fresh chicken meat remains very low, provided proper food safety and hygiene practices are followed. The study was based on an extensive sampling of 2,005 chicken meat samples collected over a 40-week period across all Australian state. The findings demonstrate exceptionally high levels of microbiological complete susceptibility to all tested antimicrobical classes among most bacteria isolated from chicken meat.

The widespread practice of using untreated poultry manure as agricultural fertilizer represents a primary pathway for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria to infiltrate soil and water systems, according to a compelling new study presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2026.  

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) has enacted a significant regulatory shift in the country's animal production sector. On April 27, 2026, MAPA published 'Portaria SDA/MAPA nº 1.617/2026', establishing a nationwide ban on the importation, manufacture, marketing, and use of antimicrobial additives used as growth promoters that contain molecules classified as crucial for human or therapeutic veterinary medicine. The new ordinance immediately cancels the product registrations for these specific growth promoters.

The European Union is set to halt a wide range of animal product shipments from Brazil, including poultry, starting September 3, 2026. The regulatory framework driving this suspension is Article 118 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6, which governs veterinary medicinal products. The enforcement of this clause serves a dual purpose: advancing the global fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and ensuring a level playing field for European farmers, who have long operated under strict internal standards. Under this regulation, non-EU "third countries" must mirror the bloc's stringent public health criteria to maintain export access.

A major longitudinal study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University has revealed a compelling association between regular egg consumption and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest that including eggs as part of a balanced diet may provide neuroprotective benefits, potentially reducing the risk of this debilitating condition by as much as 27%. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by the accumulation of abnormal protein plaques in the brain, leading to cognitive decline and loss of independence. Although previous research has suggested that nutrients found in eggs may support cognitive health, establishing a long-term association has remained challenging.

The Problem Reliable and accurate quantification of pathogens is essential for determining (low) microbial levels in complex biological samples. However, the accuracy of culture‑based and molecular methods can differ, particularly at low target concentrations or in the presence of inhibitory substances from complex matrices such as feces or cloacal swabs. A direct comparison of these methods is therefore needed to identify which technique provides the most reliable and accurate results.

A comprehensive survey published in April 2026 by the Laying Hen Welfare Forum (LHWF) highlights a pivotal shift in the UK poultry industry, with white chick placements reaching 15% of the national flock by mid-2025. The report, which analyzed feedback from 39 egg producers and pullet rearers, explores the management practices and welfare outcomes of white hybrid breeds in a market historically dominated by brown eggs. The findings reveal high levels of producer satisfaction, with 67% of respondents finding white breeds easier to manage and 79% describing them as more resilient and robust than brown hybrids.

The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has released its comprehensive "Breakfast Smarter" report for April 2026, detailing a significant structural shift in UK egg consumption and the commodity's evolving role in the national diet. Driven by a combination of clinical health evidence and shifting demographic preferences, the report highlights that British eggs have moved from a traditional weekend staple to a functional, daily nutritional powerhouse.

New data indicate that Ukraine is rapidly consolidating its position as a dominant force in the global agricultural market. During the first quarter of 2026, the country exported 579.5 million eggs, representing a 17% increase in volume compared with the same period in 2025. While export volumes grew steadily, financial returns increased disproportionately. Total revenue for Q1 2026 reached $66 million, a 74% year-over-year rise. According to industry analysts, although global price fluctuations contributed to this growth, the primary drivers were significant optimization of logistics chains and improved compliance with stringent international quality standards. These advances have granted Ukrainian producers broader access to high-value premium markets. 

A major investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) has exposed significant regulatory failings in Poland's massive poultry industry, with nearly 1,000 large-scale farms potentially operating without necessary environmental permits and facing inadequate veterinary inspections. This situation, in the European Union's largest poultry producing country, creates a significant risk for undetected disease outbreaks and severe environmental pollution. The investigation revealed that almost half of Poland’s approximately 2,000 industrial-scale poultry farms, lack required "integrated permits" related to pollution control, a clear breach of EU law. These farms fly under the radar of environmental inspectors, who only monitor registered facilities. The discrepancies are vast: while veterinary records in the poultry-dense Mazowieckie region suggest over 600 megafarms exist, the climate ministry's data only accounts for 261. 

Lebanon serves as one of the most vital yet perilous corridors for migratory birds traveling between Europe and Africa. Each year, tens of thousands of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) and Black Storks (Ciconia nigra) traverse the Lebanese flyway. However, recent data and social media evidence highlight a disturbing trend of systematic illegal poaching that threatens European conservation efforts. Lebanon is a key bottleneck on the Eastern Flyway. For many European populations, this route is non-negotiable. Unlike smaller passerines, storks are large soaring birds that depend on thermals (rising columns of warm air) to travel long distances.

A comprehensive industry report, "Shell Shocked," released in March 2026, warns that a significant surge in egg imports is undermining the UK’s food safety, animal welfare, and economic stability. Produced by the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), the report details how eggs produced to lower standards, specifically from countries like Ukraine and Poland, pose a multifaceted threat to British consumers and producers.

A U.S. federal judge has granted final approval to a historic $398 million settlement involving 18 of the United States' leading poultry producers. The class-action lawsuit concluded that these companies conspired for decades to systematically suppress the wages of hundreds of thousands of processing plant workers through coordinated antitrust violations. From an economic and regulatory perspective, the case highlights the sophisticated mechanisms used to facilitate wage suppression. The conspiracy relied on "off-the-books" meetings between senior executives, the exchange of non-public compensation data via third-party vendors, and direct bilateral communication regarding future pay scales.

Brazil is cementing its position as a global powerhouse in the poultry industry, currently ranking as the world’s third-largest chicken meat producer and its leading exporter. According to the latest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports, 2026 is projected to be a year of record-breaking growth, driven by improved production costs and resilient international demand. The forecast for Brazilian chicken meat production in 2026 stands at 15.7 million metric tons (MMT), representing a two percent increase from 2025. The South region, comprising Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, continues to anchor the industry, accounting for 57 percent of national production. This growth is fueled by a reduction in production costs, particularly feed.

A recent strategic analysis by Rabobank highlights the complex, multi-layered pressures that the ongoing Middle East crisis is exerting on both local and global poultry markets. At the local level, the conflict has led to immediate operational setbacks. Direct impacts include damage to physical infrastructure, significant labor shortages, and logistical bottlenecks in distribution. These factors have created localized supply-demand imbalances, resulting in price volatility within the immediate region as producers struggle to maintain consistent output amid persistent security concerns. The most profound global consequence stems from heightened risks to maritime trade routes, particularly the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

PIPP stands for Pathogen Isolation Protocol for Poultry. It’s an innovative and unique diagnostic approach where sentinel birds, free of pathogens, and without (maternal) antibodies nor cellular immunity for those pathogens, are placed on farms to naturally pick up pathogens circulating in the environment. This method provides a more accurate picture of the infectious agents present on the farm and allows for easier pathogen isolation.

In a landmark decision for animal welfare, Norway has become the first country to commit to a nationwide transition away from fast-growing broiler breeds. The country’s leading meat producer, Nortura, together with the Norwegian Association of Meat and Poultry Industry (KLF), has issued a binding joint declaration to fully eliminate these breeds by December 31, 2027.

The European egg market continues to experience significant price appreciation and shifting trade dynamics as of early 2026. According to the latest market dashboard, EU egg prices have reached €292.42 per 100 kg in week 7, reflecting a substantial 18.5% increase compared to the previous year. The current upward trend is steady, with prices rising 0.7% over the last week and 3.3% over the last month.

KFC UK & Ireland has announced a significant £10 million increase in its annual investment in British poultry, bringing its total domestic spend to nearly £100 million for 2026. This strategic expansion aims to raise the proportion of British-sourced chicken to 35% of the brand’s total volume by the end of the year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its final Guidance for Industry, establishing clearly defined durations of use for medically important antimicrobial drugs administered via animal feed. This move marks a significant milestone in the global initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The primary goal of this guidance is to ensure that all antimicrobials critical to human medicine are used in accordance with the principles of judicious use. Historically, many such drugs were approved with "undefined durations of use," meaning their labels lacked specific instructions on the length of administration. The FDA now requires these labels to be revised, ensuring these drugs are used only for the time necessary to treat, control, or prevent specific diseases.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled proposed regulations aimed at increasing line speeds at poultry production facilities. While the administration argues the move will benefit consumers, the proposal is already facing pushback from safety and welfare advocates. Under the newly proposed guidelines, the maximum slaughter line speeds for chickens would see a significant jump, rising from 140 birds per minute (bpm) to 175 bpm. Similarly, turkey processing lines would be permitted to increase their speed from 55 to 60 bpm.

A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against retail giant Costco Wholesale Corp., alleging that its iconic rotisserie chickens may pose a significant food safety risk. The complaint, filed in a Seattle federal court, claims that the company’s primary poultry processing facility in Fremont, Nebraska, consistently fails to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety standards for Salmonella contamination. The legal action stems from a December 2025 study by the nonprofit animal welfare organization "Farm Forward." According to the complaint, USDA inspection data revealed that over 9.8% of whole chickens and 15.4% of chicken parts at the Nebraska plant tested positive for Salmonella.

Regulatory authorities in Moldova have ordered the mass destruction of poultry and eggs after routine testing detected prohibited concentrations of the drug Metronidazole. The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has mandated the seizure and destruction of approximately 130,000 eggs and more than 100,000 broilers, along with significant quantities of animal feed. An epidemiological investigation suggests that the contamination originated from tainted feed imported from Ukraine.

Health officials in Lancashire have issued a stark warning to residents near the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone, advising against the consumption of locally produced eggs and poultry. The advisory follows the discovery of elevated concentrations of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), a potent member of the "forever chemicals" family, within a 1km radius of a former ICI manufacturing site in Thornton-Cleveleys. The source of the contamination is linked to historical industrial activity at the site, which is currently operated by AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd but was formerly managed by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). The substance was used extensively in manufacturing processes between the 1950s and 2012.

New data released by the Union of Poultry Growers of Ukraine reveals unprecedented growth in the export of shell eggs and egg products throughout 2025. Despite the ongoing challenges of war, the country managed to boost its export volume by over 65%. According to the 2025 summary report published in January 2026, Ukrainian producers exported approximately 2.05 billion shell eggs over the past year, a dramatic 65.6% increase compared to 2024.

The French egg market is currently facing a significant supply crisis, with supermarket shelves across the country, particularly in the Paris region, left largely empty. The shortage reflects a “perfect storm” of surging consumer demand, logistical disruptions, and widespread poultry health challenges. In recent weeks, consumers have turned to social media to share images of depleted aisles, reporting substantial difficulty in finding even basic cartons of eggs.

The Argentine Organization of Egg Producers and Processors (CAPIA) recently released its annual report summarizing 2025. The report, based on a population of approximately 47.13 million, indicates mixed but predominantly positive trends within the layer sector. The year 2025 marked the conclusion of two years of significant momentum for the industry, reflecting a cumulative growth of over 18%. Domestic consumption in Argentina remains robust and stable, with the local market absorbing roughly 98% of national production for the past three years.

Latest figures from Eurostat underscore the poultry industry's growing dominance within the European meat market, as the sector records its most robust growth in recent years. According to the 2025 report, "Key Figures on the European Food Chain," EU poultry production reached 14.1 million tonnes in 2024. These findings reaffirm poultry’s position as the European Union’s second-largest meat sector, trailing only pigmeat, and producing more than double the volume of bovine meat.

In a significant policy development affecting the international agricultural sector, the United Kingdom and Ukraine have formalized an agreement to extend the suspension of tariffs on Ukrainian eggs and poultry meat for a further two years. Under the revised terms, the zero-tariff regime for these commodities will remain in force until March 2028. The extension constitutes a targeted adjustment to the existing bilateral trade framework. While earlier agreements had already prolonged tariff-free access for the vast majority of goods until 2029, poultry and egg products were subject to a separate timetable, with exemptions previously due to expire in March 2026.

The annual year-end report by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) reveals that despite significant challenges, including the country’s first-ever outbreak of avian influenza, Brazil concluded 2025 with a historic milestone. Poultry exports reached a record-breaking 5.324 million tonnes, representing a 0.6% increase compared to the previous year. A critical factor in this success was the implementation of a "Regionalization" strategy. This protocol allowed the industry to isolate HPAI affected areas effectively, preventing the virus from paralyzing exports from the rest of the country.

After more than 25 years of intermittent negotiations, EU member states have approved a free-trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc, paving the way for the world’s largest free-trade area, covering nearly 780 million people. The decision is seen as a geopolitical success for the European Commission and key supporters such as Germany and Spain, which view the deal as vital for diversifying supply chains and reducing dependence on China. France led an unsuccessful coalition of opposing countries, including Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Ireland, citing concerns over agricultural competitiveness and environmental standards; Italy’s late support proved decisive.

The UK Government has published a new, comprehensive Animal Welfare Strategy outlining a wide-ranging package of reforms aimed at improving the lives of millions of animals across the country by 2030. The Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds, stated that the government is adopting a more strategic approach, focusing interventions on areas where standards are weakest and strengthening enforcement across the farming, companion animal, and wildlife sectors.

Amid the spread of the Avian Influenza virus in South Korea, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced an urgent import of millions of eggs from the United States. This measure aims to stabilize the domestic market and prevent price spikes ahead of the Korean New Year. South Korea is set to import approximately 2.16 million table eggs from the U.S. as an emergency response to shortages resulting from a large-scale bird flu outbreak.