Antibiotics in animals 2026: what changes for livestock farmers and veterinarians

Key data

If you operate livestock farms or work as a veterinarian in animal production, this regulatory correction directly affects you. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189, published on June 4, 2026, modified the lists of antimicrobial medicines whose use is restricted in animals intended for food production in the EU. Now, the correction of errors published on October 13, 2026 may introduce adjustments to those lists or application deadlines, with retroactive effect from June 5, 2026.

The underlying objective is clear: to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics critical for human medicine by limiting their use in the veterinary field. Any deviation from the corrected text may have direct consequences on the marketing of your products in the European single market.

What does this regulation establish?

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189 amends Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, which is the reference framework that establishes the lists of antimicrobial medicines whose use is restricted in animals intended for food production. Additionally, it repeals Regulation (EU) 2024/2598, which remained in force until this new regulation entered into force.

The correction of errors now published acts on that Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189 to correct inaccuracies in the original text. According to available data, the correction may affect:

• The lists of antimicrobial substances prohibited or restricted for use in farm animals.
• The application deadlines of the restrictions established in the main regulation.
• The animal treatment protocols that veterinarians must follow in livestock farms.

The European regulatory framework on antimicrobials in veterinary medicine responds to the EU's strategy against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which considers the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animals a direct threat to human public health. For this reason, antibiotics classified as critical for human medicine have restricted or prohibited use in farm animals.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this correction is not insignificant. Operating with an animal treatment protocol based on the erroneous text of Regulation 2026/1189 —instead of the corrected text— may expose the farm to administrative sanctions and, more seriously, to problems in marketing products within the European single market.

The main operational risks are:

• Use of antimicrobials that the corrected text may have added to the list of restricted substances, which would constitute an infraction even if the operator acted in good faith based on the original text.
• Non-compliance with deadlines if the correction modifies the dates for applying certain restrictions.
• Blocking of marketing of animal-origin products (meat, milk, eggs) in the European single market, with the economic cost that implies for any livestock farm.
• Administrative sanctions resulting from non-compliance with European veterinary regulations, the amount of which depends on the legislation of each Member State.

Given that entry into force is June 5, 2026 —a date prior to publication of the correction on October 13, 2026— it is essential to urgently review whether the protocols applied since June comply with the corrected text.

Who does it affect?

• Livestock farmers and operators of livestock farms that use antimicrobial medicines in animals intended for food production (meat, milk, eggs, aquaculture).
• Veterinarians who prescribe and supervise antimicrobial treatments in farm animals.
• Producers and distributors of animal-origin food that market in the European single market and must ensure regulatory compliance of their livestock suppliers.
• Health authorities responsible for inspection and control of veterinary medicine use in farms.
• Veterinary pharmaceutical industry that manufactures or distributes antimicrobial medicines for animal use in the EU.

Practical example

Imagine a pig farm that, from June 5, 2026, applies a treatment protocol with a specific antimicrobial based on the original text of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189. If the correction of errors published on October 13, 2026 modifies the list of restricted substances and includes that antimicrobial, the farm will have been operating in non-compliance for more than four months.

In that scenario, the responsible veterinarian and the farmer could face a health inspection, removal of treated animals from the commercial circuit, and administrative sanctions. Additionally, if the products have already entered the food chain, additional liabilities could arise. Immediate review of the corrected text is the only way to avoid this situation.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and read the corrected text of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1189 published in the Official Journal of the EU (reference OJ:L_202690866) to identify exactly what has changed from the original text.
2. Compare the lists of restricted antimicrobials from the corrected text with those from the original text to detect whether substances have been added, removed, or modified.
3. Review animal treatment protocols in force since June 5, 2026 and verify whether any treatment applied since that date conflicts with the corrected text.
4. Update veterinary records and treatment logs of the farm to reflect compliance with the corrected text from the date of entry into force.
5. Consult with the responsible veterinarian of the farm to adapt antimicrobial prescription and use protocols to the final text.
6. Inform the distribution chain (slaughterhouses, processing industry, distributors) about updated compliance, especially if you market in other EU Member States.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202690866