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Brussels, |
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Animal Health Law
The Animal Health Law is the EU’s single, comprehensive framework on transmissible animal diseases, established by Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Adopted in March 2016 and applicable since 21 April 2021, it modernised and streamlined the Union’s animal health regime into one overarching legal framework.
Its purpose is to support a competitive livestock sector and a safe and smooth EU market for animals and animal products, while strengthening disease prevention, preparedness and control. The law is built on the principle that prevention is better than cure, giving a central role to biosecurity, surveillance, traceability and early intervention rather than relying only on outbreak response.
The Regulation lays down rules for the prevention and control of diseases transmissible to animals or humans, including requirements for operators, animal keepers, veterinarians, movements of animals and germinal products, disease notification, surveillance, eradication, emergency measures, and the listing and categorisation of diseases. It therefore covers both routine animal health management and the legal basis for coordinated action during outbreaks.
The Animal Health Law is supplemented by a large body of delegated and implementing acts, which develop the detailed rules on issues such as establishments keeping animals, traceability, germinal products, disease prevention and control, and specific health requirements for movements within the Union and entry into the EU.
Overall, the Animal Health Law provides the legal backbone of EU animal health policy by linking animal health, public health, trade, traceability and crisis preparedness within a single legislative architecture. It is one of the key instruments through which the EU seeks to protect livestock production, food safety and the internal market while aligning with international animal health standards.
Its purpose is to support a competitive livestock sector and a safe and smooth EU market for animals and animal products, while strengthening disease prevention, preparedness and control. The law is built on the principle that prevention is better than cure, giving a central role to biosecurity, surveillance, traceability and early intervention rather than relying only on outbreak response.
The Regulation lays down rules for the prevention and control of diseases transmissible to animals or humans, including requirements for operators, animal keepers, veterinarians, movements of animals and germinal products, disease notification, surveillance, eradication, emergency measures, and the listing and categorisation of diseases. It therefore covers both routine animal health management and the legal basis for coordinated action during outbreaks.
The Animal Health Law is supplemented by a large body of delegated and implementing acts, which develop the detailed rules on issues such as establishments keeping animals, traceability, germinal products, disease prevention and control, and specific health requirements for movements within the Union and entry into the EU.
Overall, the Animal Health Law provides the legal backbone of EU animal health policy by linking animal health, public health, trade, traceability and crisis preparedness within a single legislative architecture. It is one of the key instruments through which the EU seeks to protect livestock production, food safety and the internal market while aligning with international animal health standards.
