EU tightens African swine fever zones, lifts Finland emergency measures

The European Commission has adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1961, updating the Union-level restricted zones for African swine fever and repealing the interim emergency measures that had been in force for Finland. The regulation, dated 24 August 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series) on 25 August 2026, amends Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 and takes effect the day after publication.

The measure is based on the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), in particular Articles 71(3) and 259(1), and is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. It carries EEA relevance and was adopted in Brussels on 24 August 2026.

A first outbreak in Finland

Finland notified the Commission of its first-ever African swine fever outbreak in wild porcine animals, confirmed on 30 July 2026 in the Kymenlaakso region, an area previously free of the disease. The competent authority established an infected zone under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594.

Following that notification, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1937 of 5 August 2026, applying interim emergency measures in Finland until 31 October 2026. Under the new regulation, the infected zones in Kymenlaakso are now listed in Part A of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, and Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1937 is repealed.

New outbreaks across the Union

Since the last amendment of Annex I by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1908 of 30 July 2026, several Member States have reported new outbreaks, prompting a redefinition of the restricted zones I, II and III:

• Bulgaria — an outbreak in kept porcine animals in the Varna region (August 2026) upgrades the affected restricted zone II to zone III.
• Hungary — outbreaks in kept porcine animals in the Baranya and Somogy counties (August 2026) upgrade the affected restricted zones II to zone III.
• Italy — outbreaks in wild porcine animals in the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions (July–August 2026) upgrade nearby restricted zones I to zone II.
• Poland — an outbreak in kept porcine animals in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region upgrades a restricted zone I to zone III; an outbreak in the Zachodniopomorskie region upgrades a restricted zone II to zone III; and outbreaks in wild porcine animals in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Podkarpackie and Pomorskie regions upgrade restricted zones I to zone II.

Impact on trade and movement

African swine fever is an infectious viral disease affecting kept and wild porcine animals, with a severe impact on animal populations and the profitability of farming. It disrupts movements of consignments of those animals and their products within the Union and exports to third countries.

Given the dynamic epidemiological situation, the Commission has taken account of the surrounding areas when demarcating the new restricted zones, and the amendments take effect as soon as possible to proactively combat the risk of further spread. The measures were endorsed by the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

For operators, the updated zoning directly determines which disease-control measures apply to the movement of pigs and porcine products in the affected regions, and the repeal of the Finnish emergency decision restores the standard regime for the Kymenlaakso infected zone.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, 25.8.2026 (official reference: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1961, CELEX 32026R1961).