Nodular Dermatitis in France 2026: restrictions for bovine farmers

Key data

Bovine farmers and commercial operators in affected areas of France must adapt their operations immediately. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/662, adopted on 13 March 2026, amends the annexes of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 to update emergency measures against contagious nodular dermatitis in France. This update is not a mere administrative procedure: it directly affects the ability to move animals, market bovine products and export from restricted zones.

What does this regulation establish?

Contagious nodular dermatitis is a viral disease that affects exclusively bovine livestock. Its spread can cause serious economic losses in the livestock sector and trigger commercial blockades at European level. Given its presence in France, the European Commission already established emergency measures through Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708. The new Decision 2026/662 amends the annexes of that regulation to reflect the updated epidemiological situation.

The amendments introduced affect the following elements contained in the annexes:

• Update of the restriction zones in France where emergency measures apply.
• Restrictions on the movement of bovine animals from and to affected zones.
• Restrictions on the movement of animal products from those zones.
• Specific health protocols that operators in restricted zones must comply with.

This regulation directly amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708, which was the previous reference regulation. Operators already familiar with that regulation must review the new annexes to verify whether their zone or activity has been included or modified in this update.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this regulation is direct on the daily operations of bovine farmers and traders. The concrete consequences are:

• Movement restrictions: Bovine animals in restricted zones cannot move freely to other zones in France or to other member states without complying with the established health protocols.
• Export blockade: Non-compliance with the measures may result in the blockade of exports of animals and animal products from affected zones.
• Additional operational costs: Operators must implement specific health protocols, which involves costs for veterinary management, documentation and possible quarantines.
• Sanctions for non-compliance: Non-compliance with movement restrictions and health protocols may result in administrative sanctions.
• Impact on the supply chain: Spanish operators who receive or import bovines from France must verify the origin of the animals and apply additional controls.

From the Spanish side, the regulation requires strengthening controls at border checkpoints with France for animals from restricted zones. This may generate logistical delays and additional inspection costs for operators who regularly work with French suppliers.

Who does it affect?

• Bovine farmers located in the restriction zones declared in France.
• Commercial bovine operators (traders, intermediaries, slaughterhouses) operating in or from affected areas of France.
• Veterinarians providing services to bovine farms in restricted zones.
• Spanish importers and operators who receive bovine animals or animal products from France, especially from areas close to restricted areas.
• Spanish competent authorities in animal health matters, which must apply additional border controls.

Practical example

A commercial bovine operator in southern France who regularly sends animals to slaughterhouses in northern Spain finds that their operating area has been included in the new updated restriction zones annexes by Decision 2026/662.

As of 13 March 2026, this operator cannot move their bovine animals to Spain without complying with the specific health protocols established in the regulation. Any shipment that does not demonstrate compliance with those protocols may be blocked at the border by Spanish health authorities, which are obliged to apply additional controls on animals from restricted zones. If the operator breaches the movement restrictions, they are exposed to administrative sanctions and export blockades.

For its part, the Spanish slaughterhouse receiving the animals must verify that the animals it receives do not come from restriction zones or, if they do, that they comply with all required health documentation.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify whether your zone or that of your suppliers is included in the new annexes of Decision 2026/662. Consult the official text on EUR-Lex directly to identify the updated restriction zones.
2. Review all planned movements of bovine animals from or to affected areas of France and suspend them until confirming compliance with the required health protocols.
3. Contact the official veterinarian or competent authority to learn about the specific health protocols applicable to your farm or commercial activity.
4. Update the health documentation of animals and animal products moving from restricted zones, ensuring that it complies with the requirements of the updated regulation.
5. If you are a Spanish operator receiving bovines from France, implement additional controls on receipt to verify that the animals do not come from restriction zones or that they comply with the required protocols.
6. Monitor possible further updates of the annexes, as the epidemiological situation may evolve and the Commission may modify the restriction zones again.