The EU animal health law

KEY POINTS

This comprehensive regulation supports the European Union (EU) livestock and food production sectors and the related EU market in terms of sustainability, competitiveness, growth and jobs. It replaces and extends existing EU rules on animal health, bringing most of them together into one simpler law with a better focus on the key priorities in tackling disease. These priorities include:

• clearer responsibilities for farmers (livestock, fish and shellfish farms) and other people involved (e.g. vets) regarding early detection in order to prevent major disease outbreaks or prevent diseases from spreading to limit their damage;
• simplified administration for international trade in certain live animals and animal products (such as semen, ova and embryos);
• a clearer legal basis and better tools for veterinary authorities to fight potentially devastating transmissible diseases, particularly for surveillance, diagnosis and notification;
• more flexibility to adjust rules to local circumstances and emerging issues such as climate and social change;
• reducing adverse effects on animal and human health and the environment.

It sets out requirements for:

• disease prevention and preparation for possible outbreaks (e.g. biosecurity¹ measures) such as the use of diagnostic tools, vaccination and medical treatments;
• the identification and registration of animals and certain animal products (e.g. semen, ova, embryos) and the certification and tracing of their consignments;
• the entry of animals and animal products into the EU and their movement within the EU;
• disease control and eradication, including emergency measures such as restrictions on the movement of animals, culling and vaccination.

The rules cover animal diseases in all kept animals (including pets in some cases), wild animals and animal products, both terrestrial and aquatic. They do not directly cover animal welfare, although the link between the health of the animals and their welfare is recognised and taken into account when considering the impact of disease.

The EU animal health law is supplemented by the following:

• traceability and animal health requirements for movements within the EU of germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) of certain kept terrestrial animals, and the approval of germinal product establishments (establishments which produce or process germinal products);
• prevention and control of certain diseases;
• animal health requirements for movements within the EU of terrestrial animals and hatching eggs;
• surveillance, eradication and disease-free status for certain diseases;
• rules for aquaculture establishments and transporters of aquatic animals;
• rules for entry into the EU and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin;
• rules for establishments keeping terrestrial animals and hatcheries, and the traceability of certain kept terrestrial animals and hatching eggs;
• diseases subject to EU surveillance programmes, their geographical scope and diseases for which disease-free areas may be set up;
• animal health requirements for the movements within the EU of aquatic animals and products of animal origin from aquatic animals.

A full list of the regulations supplementing or implementing the EU animal health law is maintained by the Commission.