Dead animal removal insurance 2026: key points for livestock farmers

Key data

Spanish livestock farmers have a concrete way to cover one of the most recurring and unavoidable costs of their activity: the removal and disposal of dead animals on the farm. Orden APA/285/2026, of 18 March, published in the BOE on 28 March 2026, regulates access to this insurance within the 47th Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan.

This is not an optional expense. Health and environmental regulations require the controlled management of animal carcasses, generating direct and recurring costs for any livestock operation. This insurance allows that economic risk to be transferred to a policy, improving the financial predictability of the farm.

What does this regulation establish?

Orden APA/285/2026 regulates five key elements of the dead animal removal and disposal insurance:

The reference by-product weight is the central technical figure for calculating compensation: each type of animal is assigned a standard weight that serves as the basis for determining the amount payable when a claim occurs. This parameter is set directly in the Orden, giving the farmer certainty about what they will receive.

The regulation falls within the 47th Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan, the annual instrument used by the Ministry of Agriculture to structure the insurance system for the agricultural sector in Spain. It is updated each year to incorporate new coverage or adjust the conditions of existing ones.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this regulation is twofold: it reduces economic uncertainty and improves cash flow planning on livestock farms.

• Costs covered: The costs of removing and disposing of dead animals are mandatory under health and environmental regulations. Without insurance, the farm bears these costs in full every time an animal dies.
• Financial predictability: By transferring this risk to a policy, the farmer converts a variable and unpredictable expense into a fixed annual cost (the insurance premium), making economic planning easier.
• Clear compensation basis: The reference by-product weight set out in the Orden eliminates uncertainty about the amount payable in the event of a claim.
• Conditional access: Only farms that meet the minimum technical conditions established in the regulation can take out the policy. Those that do not meet them are excluded from the coverage system.

From an operational standpoint, the regulation does not impose new obligations on farmers: it regulates access to a voluntary instrument. However, not taking out the insurance when entitled to do so means assuming an avoidable economic risk.

Who is affected?

• Holders of livestock farms in Spain that meet the minimum technical conditions set out in Orden APA/285/2026
• Farmers of any species whose farms fall within the scope of the insurance
• Advisors and managers of livestock farms who plan risk coverage for their clients
• Agricultural insurance intermediaries operating under the 47th Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan
• Cooperatives and livestock associations that collectively manage their members' policies

Practical example

A farmer who holds a pig farming operation that meets the minimum technical conditions established in Orden APA/285/2026 can take out this insurance during the subscription period set out in the regulation.

When an animal dies on the farm, the farmer is legally required to arrange its removal and disposal through an authorised operator, which generates a direct cost. With an active policy, that cost is covered by the insurance, with compensation calculated on the basis of the reference by-product weight assigned to that species in the Orden.

Without the insurance, that same expense falls entirely on the farm every time an animal dies, with the cash flow impact that entails — particularly on farms with large herds or during periods of higher mortality.

What should businesses do now?

1. Verify whether the farm meets the minimum technical conditions established in Orden APA/285/2026 to be considered insurable.
2. Identify the current subscription period within the 47th Combined Agricultural Insurance Plan to avoid missing the contracting window.
3. Contact Agroseguro or an agricultural insurance intermediary to obtain the specific policy conditions, the premium amount, and the reference by-product weight applicable to the livestock species on the farm.
4. Assess the cost-benefit ratio by comparing the annual insurance premium with the historical expenditure on dead animal removal and disposal on the farm.
5. Formalise the policy within the subscription period if the farm meets the requirements, in order to ensure coverage during the established guarantee period.

Official source

View full regulation at the official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7171