Animal health rules for non-EU countries: 2026 update
- Animal health
Summary
The European Union (EU) has updated the animal health requirements for non-EU countries exporting animals and animal products to the EU. The changes include:
- removal of gelatine, collagen, and highly refined products from the scope of animal health requirements – animal health rules will no longer apply to these products
- updated identification methods for certain animals
- extended application of specific requirements in relation to horse diseases
- stricter rules on raw meat from countries with foot and mouth disease
- update of risk-mitigating treatments for dairy and eggs
- clarification of risk-mitigating treatments for dairy and egg ingredients in composite products
- review of information in vaccination programmes against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- updated list of individual EU Member State measures on aquatic species susceptible to diseases
- identification of vector species for the protozoan parasite Mikrocytos mackini.
EU updates animal health rules for non-EU countries
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1052 of 12 May 2026 amending and correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin
Update
The European Union (EU) has updated the animal health requirements for non-EU countries exporting animals and animal products to the EU. The changes include:
- removal of gelatine, collagen, and highly refined products from the scope of animal health requirements – animal health rules will no longer apply to these products
- updated identification methods for certain animals
- extended application of specific requirements in relation to horse diseases
- stricter rules on raw meat from countries with foot and mouth disease
- update of risk-mitigating treatments for dairy and eggs
- clarification of risk-mitigating treatments for dairy and egg ingredients in composite products
- review of information in vaccination programmes against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- updated list of individual EU Member State measures on aquatic species susceptible to diseases
- identification of vector species for the protozoan parasite Mikrocytos mackini.
Impacted Products
Dairy, shelf-stable products, milk, eggs and egg products, aquatic species
What is changing?
Regulation 2020/692 sets out the specific health conditions that apply to animals and animal products exported from non-EU countries to the EU. The new Regulation 2026/1052 amends the following Articles in Regulation 2020/692.
Gelatine, collagen, and highly refined products
As production of these products eliminates any risk to animal or public health, they will no longer have to comply with the European Union’s animal health rules (they are removed from the scope of Regulation 2020/692).
Identification of certain animals
The identification of certain animals must conform with ISO standards. As the ISO standards have been updated, references to the standards must also be updated in Regulation 2020/692 in relation to:
- ungulates – conventional or electronic ear tag (Art. 21)
- ratites – neck-tag or injectable transponder (Art. 43)
- captive birds – closed-ring or injectable transponder (Art. 53).
Extended application of requirements relating to horse diseases
The new Regulation amends the specific requirements that apply to exported horses when horse diseases have been identified. The requirements in Regulation 2020/692 (Annex XI, 2.1) are extended to include cases where African horse sickness, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, infection with glanders (Burkholderia mallei), or infection with dourine or surra (Trypanosoma spp.) have been reported during certain periods. The new Regulation also removes the specific conditions for non-EU countries where these diseases have never been reported or have been absent for 24 months (36 months in the case of glanders).
Stricter rules on raw meat from countries with foot and mouth disease
To reduce the risks of spreading foot and mouth disease, raw meat to be exported to the EU for use in meat products must not come from any country or territory in which cattle are vaccinated against this disease (Arts. 148 and 149).
Raw material to produce dairy or egg products
The new Regulation clarifies that:
- dairy products subject to a risk-mitigating treatment can be produced from raw milk and dairy products (there is currently only a reference to “milk”, Art. 157).
- egg products can enter the EU from authorised and listed non-EU countries not only if they have disease surveillance programmes in place for HPAI, but also if the egg products have been submitted to risk mitigation treatments that inactivate HPAI virus and Newcastle disease virus (Art. 160)
Composite products
The new Regulation clarifies the following in relation to composite products (revised Art. 163).
- The general animal health requirements that apply to animal products (Regulation 2020/692, Part IV, Title 1) also apply to composite products. This includes the application of rules on risk-mitigating treatments for some products from certain non-EU countries or territories.
- For countries authorised to produce shelf-stable composite products, the requirements relating to risk-mitigating treatments for imported dairy ingredients are clarified (see Table 1). In particular, the risk-mitigating treatment must be applied in the country where the dairy ingredient is produced.
Risk-mitigating treatments for dairy and egg products
These risk-mitigating treatments have been updated (see Tables 2 and 3).
Information in vaccination programme against HPAI
The minimum information to be included in vaccination programmes against HPAI is reviewed, revising Regulation 2020/692, Annex XIII to align with Regulation 2023/361, Annex III.
Export of horses to the EU
The new Regulation clarifies that only animals free from African horse sickness and that have not been vaccinated against this disease can be exported to the EU (revision of Regulation 2020/692, Annex IV).
EU Member State measures on aquatic species susceptible to diseases
The list of aquatic species susceptible to diseases for which EU Member States have national measures is updated (Table 4) (revision of Regulation 2020/692, Annex XXIX).
Vector species identified for Mikrocytos mackini
The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is listed as a vector for the protozoan parasite Mikrocytos mackini (added to Regulation 2020/692, Annex XXX; no vectors were previously identified).
Why?
New scientific knowledge and the experience gained in applying Regulation 2022/692 have shown the need to refine several provisions related to the scope, application of specific conditions, animal identification, meat, dairy and egg products, composite products, vaccination programmes against highly pathogenic avian influenza, and aquatic animals.
Timeline
The Regulation applies from 12 August 2026.
Recommended Actions
Producers of dairy and egg products should pay particular attention to the changes in risk-mitigating treatments.
Background
Exports of animals and animal products to the EU are subject to animal health requirements to prevent the spread of diseases.
For non-EU countries, the key requirements are in Delegated Regulation 2020/692 (see Animal health requirements for non-EU countries exporting to the EU – explained).
Resources
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin
Sources
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1052 as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin
Tables & Figures
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXVII, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXVII, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXVIII, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXIX, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
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EU updates animal health rules for non-EU countries
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1052 as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin
What is changing and why?
Exports of animals and animal products to the European Union (EU) are subject to animal health requirements to prevent the spread of diseases. For non-EU countries, the key requirements are in Regulation 2020/692.
Regulation 2026/1052 makes the following changes to Regulation 2020/692, based on new scientific knowledge and the experience gained in applying it.
- Gelatine, collagen, and highly refined products are removed from the scope of animal health requirements (animal health rules will no longer apply to these products).
- Identification methods for ungulates (conventional or electronic ear tag), ratites (neck-tag or injectable transponder), and captive birds (closed-ring or injectable transponder) are updated to align with ISO standards.
- For horse diseases, the application of specific animal health requirements is extended to include cases where African horse sickness, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, or infections with glanders, dourine, or surra have been reported during certain periods. Where these diseases have never been reported or have been absent for 24 months (36 months in the case of glanders), the new Regulation removes these requirements.
- For foot and mouth disease, the new Regulation sets stricter rules: raw meat used for the production of meat products to be exported to the EU must not come from any country or territory in which cattle are vaccinated against this disease.
- For shelf-stable composite products, the new Regulation clarifies the rules authorising countries to produce both the dairy ingredients for these products, and the composite products themselves. The requirements depend on the risk-mitigating treatment applied to the dairy ingredient (Table 1). The risk-mitigating treatment must be applied in the country where the dairy ingredient is produced.
- The risk-mitigating treatments for dairy and egg products are updated (Tables 2 and 3).
- The information in vaccination programmes against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is revised.
- The list of aquatic species susceptible to diseases for which EU Member States have national measures is updated (Table 4).
- The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is now listed as a vector for infection with the protozoan parasite Mikrocytos mackini (no vectors were previously identified).
Actions
Producers of dairy and egg products should pay particular attention to the changes in risk-mitigating treatments.
Timeline
The Regulation applies from 12 August 2026.
Tables & Figures
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXVII, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXVII, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXVIII, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
Source: Regulation 2020/692 Annex XXIX, as amended by Regulation 2026/1052
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.