Animal Health Law: A new EU Regulation to protect our Union

What is this new EU Regulation on transmissible animal diseases and how did it come to life?   

This Regulation deals with animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or people. It forges out principles and rules that both prevent and control transmissible animal diseases in animals kept by humans, such as pets and livestock, as well as in wild animals and in animal products.    

In particular, these rules lay out the requirements for a number of areas including disease prevention and awareness, the traceability of animals and products, movements within the Union, entry into the Union and exports of animals and animal products as well as emergency measures.    

Most of these rules existed in some form under past legislation and have been responsible in underpinning the health of animals and therefore the smooth operation of the internal market of live animals and their derivative products.   

What expected positive impact(s) do you foresee this law as having on animal health, as well as on the health of citizens?   

Both the livestock and aquaculture sectors in the EU are substantial.    

In 2019 just over half of the EU-27’s meat production was from pigs (22.8 million tonnes), while poultry meat production reached 13.3 million tonnes, a new high. There are about 1.6 billion heads of poultry, and over 100 million cats and dogs are kept as beloved pets. Our European Way of Life is intrinsically linked to the health and wellbeing of our animals.    

This new regulation will help combat outbreaks of diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF), which led to the cull of 700,000 pigs in the EU in 2014, and avian influenza that have had negative economic impacts in recent years. It will also contribute to the eradication of zoonoses that may seriously affect humans, such as rabies.   

The Regulation will also help reduce the use of antibiotics by introducing measures for the prevention of transmissible animal diseases. Together with operators and animal keepers taking clear responsibility for the health of their animals and the responsible use of veterinary medicines, this should lead to reducing the use of veterinary medicines including antimicrobial agents and help contribute to the ultimate aim to reduce antimicrobial resistance in the Union.  

Will this Regulation help tackle climate change and contribute to the Green Deal?   

Environmental considerations have been part of the EU animal health policy for a long time, reflected for example by the proper disposal of carcasses of animals killed during epidemics or the robust rules in place for the collection and safe treatment of animal by-products. Such actions decrease the negative effects on the environment.   

As part of the Green Deal, this new Regulation builds on legislation in force prior to its application to contribute to the protection of the environment by sharpening economic competiveness for livestock farmers and improving EU tools to fight transmissible animal diseases.    

Healthy animals use precious resources like water and land more efficiently, thereby reducing the impact on the environment. This will directly contribute towards both economic and environmental sustainability in general.    

Lastly, this new Regulation takes a One Health approach that considers that diseases occurring in wild animals may have a detrimental effect on the agriculture and aquaculture sectors, on public health, the environment and on biodiversity. It is this approach, which takes a wider view of the challenges we face, that will help us make positive impacts on our environment. This regulation is one important piece of the larger jigsaw. 

What is the state of preparation of Member States? Are they ready? 

While the Regulation entered into application on 21 April 2021, and the Commission and Member States successfully started with its implementation, we accept that Member States and certain operators have required a transition period in some cases.    

For instance, new certificates for movements between Member States will start to be used on 17 October 2021. New certificates for the entry into the Union can be issued by third countries immediately. But current certificates can also be accepted for entry in to the Union before 20 October 2021.   

Given the recent COVID-19 pandemic, will this new law tackle zoonotic diseases to reduce the threat of pandemics in the future?   

Pandemics are a permanent threat. Part of embracing the One Health approach is recognising that human health is connected to animal health and to the environment.    

Taking action to improve animal health, will have positive knock-on effects to our own health and that of our environment, therefore making a significant contribution to reducing the threat of experiencing another devastating pandemic that we have all lived through for over a year. 

For further details on the new Animal health Law, please consult: Animal Health Law online