Animal Health Law evaluation: Call for evidence
- Animal health
Summary
The European Commission is evaluating the effectiveness of the Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429) and all its delegated and implementing acts, including Regulation 2020/692 addressing animal health requirements for non-EU countries. The aim is to publish an evaluation report by April 2026. All stakeholders, including businesses and trade associations in non-EU countries, can provide evidence before 3 April 2024 via the Commission’s Have your say webpage.
EU launches call for evidence for Animal Health Law evaluation
Animal Health Law (evaluation) – Call for evidence
Update
The European Commission is evaluating the effectiveness of the Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429) and all its delegated and implementing acts, including Regulation 2020/692 addressing animal health requirements for non-EU countries. The aim is to publish an evaluation report by April 2026. All stakeholders, including businesses and trade associations in non-EU countries, can provide evidence before 3 April 2024 via the Commission’s Have your say webpage.
Impacted Products
Live food-producing animals, food of animal origin
What is changing?
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence for its evaluation of the Animal Health Law and associated rules including Regulation 2020/692 on Animal health requirements for third countries exporting to the EU.
The evaluation will focus on the relevance, adequacy, and sustainability of the Animal Health Law and the rules based on it.
The Law’s impact on trade with countries outside the EU, internal coherence, and coherence with other EU policies and programmes (such as One Health, food safety, and animal welfare) will also be taken into consideration.
The evaluation will look at opportunities for further streamlining reporting obligations and reducing the administrative burden for citizens, operators, and competent authorities.
This call for evidence will be complemented by targeted consultations, interviews, surveys, and workshops. Its results will be summarised and published.
Timeline
The call for evidence is open until 3 April 2024.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
The call for evidence is open to all stakeholders, including those in non-EU countries. It is a timely opportunity to give feedback to the Commission and provide evidence that could help to improve the Regulations.
Recommended Actions
This call for evidence is open to all interested stakeholders via the EU’s Have your say webpage until 3 April 2024. It is the start of a wider consultation among EU stakeholders, and your input can still be relevant after that date – please email agrinfo@colead.link if you wish to contribute after 3 April.
Background
The Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429) applies since 21 April 2021. Its key objective is to prevent and control animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or humans, by putting into practice the principles set out in the EU’s Animal Health Strategy 2007–2013: “Prevention is better than cure” (European Commission 2007) and the “One Health” principle. It ensures better disease preparedness; prevention and control of listed animal diseases; and a risk-based approach to deciding on the animal health requirements for movements of animals and animal products within the EU, and the entry of animals and animal products into the EU.
Article 282 of the Animal Health Law states that the Commission must evaluate the law and its delegated acts, and submit the results of the evaluation in a report to the European Parliament and the Council no later than 22 April 2026.
Resources
European Commission (2007) A new Animal Health Strategy for the European Union (2007–2013) where “Prevention is better than cure”. Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
European Commission (2013) Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment accompanying the Document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Animal Health.
European Commission: Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the technical and economic feasibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification of bovine animals throughout the Union.
European Commission: Audit Reports – filter for “animal health” to see results of animal health audits since the adoption of the Animal Health Law.
Sources
Animal Health Law (evaluation) – Call for evidence
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EU launches call for evidence for Animal Health Law evaluation
Regulation
Animal Health Law (evaluation) – Call for evidence
What is changing and why?
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to support its evaluation of the Animal Health Law and related rules, including those laying down specific requirements for non-EU countries exporting to the EU. The evaluation will focus on the relevance, adequacy, and sustainability of the Animal Health Law, and its impact on trade with countries outside the EU. The evaluation will also take into consideration the Law’s coherence, both internally and with other EU policies and programmes.
This call for evidence provides a timely opportunity for non-EU countries to give feedback on the EU animal health legislation.
Actions
This call for evidence is open to all interested stakeholders via the EU’s Have your say webpage until 3 April 2024. It is the start of a wider consultation among EU stakeholders, and your input can still be relevant after that date – please email agrinfo@colead.link if you wish to contribute after 3 April.
Timeline
The call for evidence is open until 3 April 2024.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.