24-2-2022: 

New European legislation

The importance of good animal health extends beyond the national borders. That is why the Animal Health Regulation has been drawn up. This new regulation came into effect on 21 April 2021.

The European legislation concerning animal health was outdated in some fields, and fragmented across many directives and decrees. The European Commission therefore took a closer look at the legislation and decided, together with the member states, which animal diseases must be reported, which animal diseases should be eradicated, what the EU wants the monitoring to focus on, which trade requirements apply, etc.

Various categories of animal disease

In 2016, all member states embraced the Animal Health Law. Five categories of animal disease were established: A through E.

A diseases are animal diseases that we do not want to be present in the EU and that need to be combated immediately. For example, high-pathogenic avian influenza and NCD. The B diseases, such as Brucellosis, occur in some EU countries. It has been determined that the EU wishes to gradually eradicate these diseases. When it comes to C diseases, member states may decide for themselves whether they are eradicated, and may establish rules to maintain this free status. D diseases are the trading diseases for which free status cannot be applied for, but for which trade requirements can be set. Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella arizonae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum all fall within this category and are subject to monitoring requirements.

Low-pathogenic avian influenza currently falls within the category D diseases, i.e. member states may decide for themselves whether a control programme is required. However, monitoring remains compulsory. E diseases are the compulsory reported animal diseases: i.e. all the categories A through D described above and in addition a number of other animal diseases that must be reported but for which no extra rules apply.