Exporting meat to the United States has always required careful coordination with USDA, customs authorities, and food safety regulators. In 2025 and 2026, several regulatory developments made that process even more important.
New country-of-origin labeling requirements took effect in 2026. Animal disease outbreaks triggered new import restrictions. USDA also changed direction on major poultry safety proposals while preparing possible updates to the system used to determine which foreign countries can export meat to the U.S.
For international meat exporters, staying compliant now requires more than checking whether a country is approved. Exporters need to monitor regulatory changes throughout the entire shipment cycle.
Here are some of the most important developments to watch in 2026 and beyond.
1. New "Product of USA" Rules Took Effect in January 2026
One of the most significant recent changes involves voluntary U.S.-origin claims on meat and poultry.
Beginning January 1, 2026, meat, poultry, and certain egg products labeled "Product of USA" or "Made in the USA" must meet stricter USDA criteria.
For a single-ingredient meat product to use these claims, the animal must have been:
- Born in the United States
- Raised in the United States
- Slaughtered in the United States
- Processed in the United States
FSIS also requires establishments using these claims to maintain documentation supporting them.
This change is particularly relevant for foreign meat that enters the U.S. and is later cut, processed, repackaged, or otherwise handled domestically.
Processing imported beef in an American facility, for example, does not automatically make the finished product eligible for a "Product of USA" claim.
USDA does allow certain qualified origin claims when they accurately describe the production step that occurred in the United States.
For exporters, accurate origin documentation has therefore become even more important.
2. Animal Disease Restrictions Became a Bigger Import Risk in 2025 and 2026
Animal health status can change much faster than traditional trade regulations.
During 2025, foot-and-mouth disease developments led APHIS to impose restrictions on certain animal commodities from parts of Europe. Restrictions affected products originating from or transiting countries including Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. Depending on the commodity, unprocessed ruminant and porcine products may be prohibited or subject to additional conditions.
Poultry exporters face similar risks.
As recently as July 2026, APHIS continued updating restrictions on poultry and avian products from Canadian zones affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza. Certain fresh poultry and unprocessed avian products from restricted areas cannot enter the United States, while some processed products may require permits or government certification.
These restrictions can change as disease conditions improve or new outbreaks appear.
What exporters should do differently
APHIS admissibility should be checked close to the shipment date, not only when the sales contract is signed.
Exporters should verify:
- Country and regional disease status
- Species-specific restrictions
- Product treatment requirements
- APHIS permit requirements
- Government veterinary certificate requirements
- Restrictions involving countries through which cargo transits
APHIS specifically directs importers of animal products to review its current Veterinary Services requirements because those requirements apply in addition to FSIS food safety requirements.
A shipment that was admissible several months ago may not necessarily be admissible today.
New Salmonella Standards Took Effect for Certain Chicken Products
Poultry exporters also saw an important regulatory development in 2025.
FSIS determined that not-ready-to-eat breaded stuffed chicken products containing Salmonella at 1 colony forming unit per gram or higher are considered adulterated under the Poultry Products Inspection Act.
The determination became effective May 1, 2025.
The rule is narrow. It targets specific products such as certain raw breaded and stuffed chicken products that may appear cooked even though they still require full cooking.
It does not automatically apply the same Salmonella threshold to all raw poultry.
Enforcement implementation has also changed
USDA originally planned to begin related verification sampling in May 2025. That implementation was delayed to November 2025.
FSIS later announced another delay because available testing methods could produce inaccurate results near the 1 CFU/g threshold.
The important point for exporters is that the underlying determination was not simply replaced by the sampling delay.
Companies exporting products within this category should continue paying close attention to pathogen controls, HACCP documentation, lot identification, and future FSIS testing announcements.
More Meat Labeling Changes Could Converge in 2028
FSIS has established that date as the uniform compliance date for new meat and poultry labeling regulations issued between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026, unless a particular regulation establishes a different deadline.
This does not mean USDA has announced one major new labeling regulation for 2028.
Instead, it creates a common compliance date for qualifying labeling rules finalized during the 2025–2026 regulatory cycle.
For international manufacturers, that means label development should increasingly consider future U.S. requirements.
Packaging designed now could still be circulating when new requirements become enforceable.
What Should Meat Exporters Do Now?
The regulatory environment is becoming more dynamic, particularly around origin claims, animal health, pathogen controls, and foreign-country eligibility.
Before shipping meat to the United States, exporters should:
- Verify that both the country and establishment remain FSIS eligible.
- Confirm that the specific species and product category are approved.
- Check APHIS animal disease restrictions shortly before shipment.
- Review the cargo's transit route for disease-related restrictions.
- Confirm whether an APHIS permit or veterinary certification is required.
- Review all U.S.-origin claims under the new 2026 rules.
- Maintain stronger product, lot, and origin documentation.
- Monitor FSIS developments related to Salmonella and foreign equivalence.
- Prepare for potential labeling updates ahead of the 2028 compliance cycle.
The current FSIS eligibility database continues to distinguish authorization by country, establishment, species, and type of product. Exporters should verify those records rather than assuming previous eligibility remains unchanged.
How CROSSCOLD Supports Meat Importers in Miami
Meat imports often involve customs entry, USDA requirements, documentation, duties, inspections, and careful inventory planning. CROSSCOLD’s Broker Strategy Network helps importers coordinate these elements by connecting customs strategy with cold-chain logistics and Foreign Trade Zone operations.
Through its network, CROSSCOLD supports customs broker coordination, FTZ duty-deferral planning, inventory release strategies, and re-export programs. This can be especially valuable for meat and frozen protein importers managing changing regulations, tariffs, or complex shipment requirements.
By aligning customs planning with storage, cross-docking, and inventory movement, CROSSCOLD helps importers create a more efficient entry strategy for the U.S. market. Its Broker Strategy Network gives companies greater flexibility in deciding when products enter U.S. commerce and how inventory is managed after arrival.
