Blue Tongue 2026: new obligations for cattle, sheep and goat farmers

Key data

If you have a cattle, sheep or goat farm and have ever moved animals between areas, this regulation affects you directly. The Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/796, published on 7 August 2026, amends Regulation (EU) 2020/687 to update control protocols against blue tongue virus in serotypes 1 to 24.

The regulation does not require transposition: it enters into force directly in all Member States. This means there is no period for national adaptation: as soon as it becomes applicable, your obligations change.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2026/796 introduces specific changes on how livestock farms must be managed when blue tongue virus is present in the area. The key elements are:

• New surveillance protocols: Farms must adapt to updated procedures for detecting and monitoring the virus in serotypes 1 to 24.
• Restricted areas: Geographic boundaries are established or updated where reinforced control measures apply.
• Conditions for animal movement: The movement of cattle, sheep and goats from or to affected areas is subject to additional health certification requirements.
• Impact on genetic material: Not only live animals are subject to restrictions; genetic material (semen, embryos) from farms in restricted areas is also affected.

This regulation amends the previous framework established by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, which already regulated control measures for listed animal diseases. The main change is the update of specific protocols for blue tongue, adapting them to the current epidemiological situation with serotypes 1 to 24.

Economic and operational impact

The most direct impact is operational: if your farm falls within a restricted area, any movement of animals or genetic material will require additional health certification. This involves:

• Veterinary certification costs: Each movement of animals from affected areas will require additional health documentation, with the associated cost in time and veterinary fees.
• Possible delays in sales and exports: If proper certification is not available, the commercialisation of live animals and genetic material may be blocked.
• Export restrictions: Non-compliance with the new requirements may result in the inability to export live animals or genetic material to other Member States or third countries.
• Surveillance costs: Adaptation to new surveillance protocols may require additional diagnostic tests and coordination with competent veterinary authorities.

The regulation does not specify penalty amounts, but the real economic risk is commercial blockage: being unable to sell or move animals until the situation is regularised.

Who does it affect?

• Cattle farmers with farms in areas declared restricted due to the presence of blue tongue virus.
• Sheep farmers who carry out or plan to move animals between autonomous communities or to other EU countries.
• Goat farmers under the same conditions as above.
• Operators of live animal collection and marketing centres working with these species.
• Artificial insemination centres and genetic material banks managing semen or embryos from cattle, sheep or goats.
• Farm veterinarians and official veterinarians, who must know and apply the new certification and surveillance protocols.
• Animal health authorities (autonomous communities in Spain) responsible for delimiting restricted areas and supervising compliance.

Practical example

Imagine a sheep farm in Extremadura that regularly sells lambs to a slaughterhouse in Portugal. If the farm's area is classified as a restricted zone under the new regulation, the farmer cannot simply load the animals and send them as before.

Before each movement, they must:

1. Coordinate with the official veterinarian to obtain the additional health certification required by Regulation (EU) 2026/796.
2. Prove that the animals meet the conditions established for movement from restricted areas (possibly prior diagnostic tests or vaccination certification).
3. Ensure that the recipient in Portugal accepts the animals under the conditions of the issued certificate.

If proper certification is not available, the movement is blocked, with the resulting impact on sales planning, animal welfare and the farm's cash flow.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your farm is in a restricted area: Contact the veterinary authority in your autonomous community to find out if your area is or may be classified as a restricted area under the new regulation.
2. Review internal animal movement protocols: Update your movement procedures to include the new health certification steps before any movement.
3. Coordinate with your farm veterinarian: Inform your regular veterinarian of the changes so they can prepare the additional required documentation with sufficient notice.
4. Review sales and export contracts: If you have supply agreements for live animals or genetic material with buyers in other EU countries, verify that delivery times are compatible with the new certification timelines.
5. Update internal surveillance protocols: Adapt your farm's health plan to the new surveillance requirements for serotypes 1 to 24 of blue tongue virus.
6. Consult a specialist veterinary or legal advisor: If you have any doubts about whether your operations are affected, seek professional advice before making movements that may be subject to the new restrictions.

Official source

View 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=CELEX:32026R0796