New EU animal health rules 2026: what changes for livestock farmers

Key data

Livestock farmers, veterinarians and livestock sector operators in the EU have new obligations following the publication of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/322 on 22 April 2026. This regulation modifies and corrects the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, which implements the Animal Health Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and updates the rules for prevention and control of animal diseases included in the EU list.

This is not a completely new regulation: it is a technical and procedural update of existing rules, but with specific changes that affect how operators and authorities must act in the event of an outbreak.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/322 introduces technical corrections and procedural updates to the previous regulation (Delegated Regulation 2020/687). The changes are concentrated in four operational areas:

The modified regulation (Regulation 2020/687) implemented the Animal Health Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which is the European legal framework of reference for animal health. Regulation 2026/322 does not repeal that framework, but rather adjusts and corrects its technical implementation.

Economic and operational impact

This regulation does not establish specific economic sanctions or amounts in the available text. However, the operational impact for affected companies and professionals is real and can translate into direct and indirect costs:

• Internal adaptation costs: review and update of biosecurity protocols, staff training and update of operational documentation.
• Compliance costs in case of outbreaks: the updated notification procedures and movement restrictions may result in operational shutdowns or limitations on the trade of animals and animal products during an outbreak.
• Risk of non-compliance: operating with outdated protocols (based on Regulation 2020/687 without the corrections of 2026/322) may expose operators to sanctions by the competent national authorities.
• Impact on aquaculture and pet animals: in addition to traditional livestock farming, the aquaculture and pet animal sectors may also be affected in their operational procedures.

Who does it affect?

According to the regulation, the groups directly affected are:

• Livestock farmers with farms of any species included in the EU disease list
• Veterinarians acting in livestock farms or in outbreak control
• Animal health authorities and official veterinary services of the Member States
• Livestock sector operators in the EU (transporters, traders, slaughterhouses, etc.)
• Aquaculture operators with animal species included in the European list
• Pet owners and operators regarding their regulatory compliance procedures

Practical example

A pig farmer in Spain operating under the protocols established by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 detects symptoms compatible with an EU-listed disease on his farm.

With the entry into force of Regulation 2026/322, the steps he must follow—notification to the competent authority, immediate biosecurity measures and restrictions on the movement of animals and products—may have been updated from those he has been applying so far. If his internal protocol does not reflect the technical corrections of the new regulation, he may be acting incorrectly before the authorities, with the risk of sanctions as applicable under the national transposition regulations.

The same applies to an aquaculture operator who detects an outbreak in his facilities: the notification procedures and restrictions on the movement of aquatic animals must be reviewed in accordance with the new text.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your activity is within the scope of application: check whether the animal species you work with are included in the EU disease list of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
2. Review internal outbreak action protocols: compare your current procedures with the new provisions of Regulation 2026/322, especially regarding notification and movement restrictions.
3. Update biosecurity measures: incorporate the technical corrections introduced by Regulation 2026/322 into your biosecurity plans and operational documentation.
4. Train the staff involved: ensure that staff responsible for biosecurity, notifications and outbreak management are aware of the procedural changes.
5. Coordinate with the farm veterinarian: veterinarians advising farms must update their recommendations in accordance with the new regulatory text.
6. Consult the competent national authority: national veterinary authorities must adapt their own protocols; contact them to find out how the changes are being implemented in your country.
7. Confirm the exact entry into force date: since it is not specified in the available data, consult the official text on EUR-Lex to find out the application deadline.