Lumpy Skin Disease in France 2026: What Cattle Farmers and Bovine Importers Must Do

Key data

Farmers and operators trading in cattle between France and the rest of the EU have, since 28 September 2026, new operational restrictions that directly affect their movements of animals, products and genetic material. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2215 amends Annex II of Decision 2025/1708, updating the map of restricted zones in France due to infection with the lumpy skin disease virus (LSD).

This is not a brand new regulation: it is a modification of an emergency measure already in force, which means that the control framework already existed and is now adjusted geographically. The practical impact is immediate for any operator moving animals or products from or to the affected zones in France.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/2215 modifies exclusively Annex II of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708, which is the annex that delimits the geographic zones in France subject to emergency measures for LSD. The rest of the regulatory framework of Decision 2025/1708 remains unchanged.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease that primarily affects cattle and other ruminants. It is transmitted by vectors (biting insects) and can cause significant economic losses in livestock farms. It does not affect people.

The specific elements regulated by the regulation are as follows:

The regulation does not specify in its published text the specific names of the municipalities or departments included or excluded in this update: that detail appears in the modified Annex II, available in the full text published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not of a sanction or fee type: it is an operational and logistical impact with indirect economic consequences. Affected operators must assume additional costs arising from:

• Additional veterinary controls at origin (France) before any intra-community movement of animals, products or genetic material.
• Possible delays or shipment blockages if animals or products come from zones included in the updated Annex II and do not meet certification requirements.
• Reinforced controls at destination for importers and recipients in Spain and other member states receiving goods from the restricted French zones.
• Review of contracts and commercial agreements with French suppliers located in zones potentially affected by the geographic update.

The update of Annex II may both expand and reduce the restricted zones compared to the previous version of Decision 2025/1708. This means that some operators who were previously outside a restricted zone may now be inside, and vice versa. Verifying the geographic position of suppliers or farms is the first mandatory step.

Who does it affect?

• Cattle farmers in France located in the zones delimited by the updated Annex II: subject to restrictions on movement of their animals.
• Cattle traders operating with France: must verify if their suppliers or destinations are in a restricted zone.
• Animal product operators (meat, milk, derivatives) from restricted French zones: subject to additional controls.
• Genetic material collection and storage centres (semen, embryos) in affected zones in France.
• Importers and recipients in Spain of animals, products or genetic material from France: Spanish veterinary authorities will apply reinforced controls.
• Spanish veterinary authorities: obliged to implement and document reinforced controls at border and at destination.

Practical example

A Spanish livestock farm that regularly purchases fattening calves from a supplier located in a French department that has been included in the updated Annex II of Decision 2026/2215 finds itself, as of 28 September 2026, in the following situation:

1. The French supplier must obtain additional veterinary certification before shipping the animals, certifying that they meet the requirements of Decision 2025/1708 for movements from a restricted zone.
2. Upon arrival in Spain, Spanish veterinary authorities are obliged to carry out reinforced controls on that shipment, which may result in more exhaustive documentary and physical inspections than under normal conditions.
3. If the documentation is not in order or the animals come from a farm not authorised for movements from a restricted zone, the shipment may be blocked or returned, with the economic cost that this implies for both parties.

The practical key: before formalising any order with French cattle suppliers, verify whether their location is inside or outside the zones of the updated Annex II.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the updated Annex II of Decision 2026/2215 in the Official Journal of the EU to identify which zones in France are currently restricted and whether your suppliers or farms fall within them.
2. Contact French suppliers of cattle, animal products or genetic material to confirm whether they are in a restricted zone and what additional certifications they can provide.
3. Review supply contracts with force majeure or animal health clauses to determine who bears the costs of additional controls or shipment blockages.
4. Coordinate with the official veterinary service (in Spain, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the competent regional authority) to learn about the reinforced control protocol applicable to imports from restricted French zones.
5. Update internal procedures for receiving animals and animal products from France, incorporating verification of restricted zone status as a mandatory prior step.
6. Document all movements carried out from 28 September 2026 with full traceability to demonstrate compliance with possible veterinary inspections.

Official source

Consult full 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_202602215