Animal Health

Lithuania VMVT Adopts 2026 Dairy Cow Mastitis Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Programme

Lithuania’s State Food and Veterinary Service has adopted a 2026 surveillance programme for mastitis pathogens in dairy cows and their susceptibility to antimicrobials, with binding rules on sampling, laboratory testing, farmer responsibilities and EUR 83,000 in dedicated funding, effective from May 2026. This significantly reinforces antimicrobial resistance monitoring and stewardship expectations in the Lithuanian dairy sector, tightening oversight of antibiotic use, data reporting and milk quality management for producers and accredited laboratories.

13 May 2026, 11:53e-tar.ltLithuania

Scotland Updates Biosecurity Measures Plan Requirements for Aquaculture Production Businesses

In May 2026 the Scottish Government reviewed and republished guidance summarising existing legal requirements for aquaculture production businesses to maintain and follow a biosecurity measures plan covering mortality handling, disease reporting, stock health, containment and on‑farm biosecurity practices at each site. This update reinforces compliance expectations for Scottish aquaculture operators and provides a clear reference point for inspections, disease‑prevention planning and demonstrating robust biosecurity management across fish farming operations.

11 May 2026, 11:48gov.scotUnited Kingdom

US FDA Requests Stakeholder Participation in ADUFA Reauthorization Consultation Meetings

FDA has opened a stakeholder consultation process for reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act, asking key veterinary and consumer groups to register by 1 June 2026 to join periodic meetings starting June 2026. Animal drug sponsors and veterinary-sector businesses should track and engage in this process, as the eventual ADUFA VI framework will influence user fee levels, review capacity, and timelines after the current authority expires in 2028.

11 May 2026, 11:38federalregister.govUnited States

Denmark Consults on EU Proposal to Amend Regulation (EU) 2019/627 for Meat Inspection in Low-Capacity Slaughterhouses and Game-Handling Establishments

Denmark is consulting on an EU draft implementing regulation that would amend Regulation (EU) 2019/627 to permit AI-supported meat inspection and longer post-mortem inspection windows for low-capacity slaughterhouses and game-handling establishments, with comments due by 1 June 2026. If adopted, this will ease staffing pressures on official veterinarians but create new validation, data-sharing and sampling obligations for meat operators and may accelerate investment in digital inspection technologies and compliance systems.

10 May 2026, 18:42prodstoragehoeringspo.blob.core.windows.netDenmarkEuropean Union

Greece Agriculture Ministry Partially Resumes Movement of Matured Cheeses From Lesvos Under Biosecurity Controls

Greece’s agriculture ministry has begun allowing limited movement of matured cheeses from Lesvos from 5 May 2026, subject to strict biosecurity controls overseen by EFET and the ministry’s veterinary directorate. Dairy operators linked to Lesvos supply chains must align with the published biosecurity guide and EFET supervision requirements before shipping cheese off-island, as emergency veterinary staffing and disease-control measures remain in force.

9 May 2026, 13:21minagric.grGreece

EU Co-Legislators Agree Draft Regulation on the Welfare and Traceability of Dogs and Cats

EU co-legislators have agreed a near-final text for a new regulation establishing harmonised welfare standards and a comprehensive traceability system for all dogs and cats bred, kept, traded or imported in the Union, with implementation staggered over several years after future publication. If adopted as drafted, breeders, sellers, shelters, foster networks, importers and online platforms will face far-reaching new obligations on housing, breeding practices, microchipping and registration, data sharing and online verification that will require multi-year planning, systems changes and coordination across Member States.

9 May 2026, 07:16eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Commission Adopts Implementing Regulation Authorising L-Tryptophan Produced With Escherichia coli CCTCC M 2024517 as Feed Additive for All Animal Species

In May 2026 the European Commission adopted an implementing regulation to authorise L-tryptophan produced with Escherichia coli CCTCC M 2024517 as a feed additive for all animal species in the EU. This adds another approved L-tryptophan source for feed manufacturers, with detailed purity, labelling and use conditions to follow in the Official Journal text, potentially broadening supplier options while maintaining safety controls.

9 May 2026, 07:15ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Hungary Nébih Enforces Against Non-Compliant Horse Veterinary Products After Szupermenta Tests

In April 2026 Hungary’s food chain safety authority Nébih published Szupermenta test results on 16 menthol-containing horse veterinary medicinal and care products, initiating three enforcement proceedings and ordering corrections for labelling deficiencies in six products. Suppliers of equine veterinary products in Hungary should review authorisation status and labelling, including online sales, to prevent unlawful marketing, missing mandatory warnings or inconsistent product information that can trigger inspections, fines and corrective orders.

9 May 2026, 07:14portal.nebih.gov.huHungary

European Commission Proposes Amendments to Animal By-Products Implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 on Necrophagous Birds and Renewable Fuels

The European Commission has circulated a draft amendment to the animal by-products implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, with Denmark running a very short consultation ahead of an EU committee vote in mid-May 2026. The changes mainly affect how animal by-products are used to feed necrophagous birds and how renewable fuels from animal fats are classified and marked, so processors and fuel suppliers should assess whether their operations or supply chains rely on these streams and plan for possible adjustments from 2027.

9 May 2026, 07:04prodstoragehoeringspo.blob.core.windows.netEuropean UnionDenmark

Norwegian Researchers Assess PFAS and Heavy Metals in Svalbard Reindeer Against EU Food-Safety Thresholds

A new Norwegian-led study of Svalbard reindeer shows sharply higher autumn PFAS and cadmium levels in liver and meat, with some samples exceeding existing EU food-contaminant benchmarks for weekly intake. While hunting is small scale, these findings signal rising PFAS burdens in Arctic wildlife and may prompt future guidance or monitoring on wild game consumption for communities relying on reindeer meat.

8 May 2026, 18:49pubs.acs.orgNorway

California DPR Announces Pesticide Products Entering Evaluation (Materials Entering Evaluation Process Volume 2026-18)

On 06 May 2026, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation announced four new pesticide registration applications and one label amendment entering its evaluation process, covering hard-surface disinfectants, a flea and tick collar, a crop fungicide and a pool algaecide. Pesticide registrants and downstream users should track these reviews, as approvals could open new California market uses while the proposed fungicide label changes would alter permitted crops, disease claims and protective equipment requirements.

8 May 2026, 18:03content.govdelivery.comUnited States

EMA Updates QRD Veterinary Combined Label-Leaflet Template to Version 9.1

In May 2026 the European Medicines Agency released version 9.1 of its English QRD combined label‑leaflet template for veterinary medicinal products, updating the standard structure and boilerplate wording for immediate packaging and package leaflets. Veterinary marketing authorisation holders should plan to migrate new and revised labels to this template, focusing on the harmonised instructions for adverse event reporting, storage conditions, environmental disposal and Union Product Database references.

8 May 2026, 11:00ema.europa.euEuropean Union

Greece Issues Updated HACCP Guide for Hoofed-Animal Slaughterhouses

In May 2026 Greece’s Ministry of Rural Development and Food published an updated HACCP guidance document setting minimum system requirements for slaughterhouses of cloven-hoofed animals. This creates a single national reference for how operators and official veterinarians should design and assess HACCP-based controls in slaughterhouses, tightening food-safety expectations without changing the underlying law.

8 May 2026, 07:19minagric.grGreece

Ukraine Publishes Draft Decree On Fee Methodologies For Veterinary Medicinal Product Registration

Ukraine’s economic ministry has opened consultation on a draft Cabinet decree that would approve methodologies for calculating the fees charged for scientific evaluation of veterinary medicinal product registration dossiers and subsequent registration changes. These methodologies would formalise how authorities calculate cost-recovery charges, shaping the fee burden for companies registering or updating veterinary medicines in Ukraine and informing future budgeting and pricing decisions.

8 May 2026, 06:55me.gov.uaUkraine

Belgium AFSCA Brings Into Force Circulars on PRE-EU Phytosanitary Certificates and Poultry Holdings

Belgium’s food chain regulator has brought into force updated circulars on PRE-EU phytosanitary pre-export certificates and on general registration and authorisation conditions for poultry holdings, effective 30 April 2026. These measures clarify how plant exporters and poultry operators must handle registration, certification, veterinary contracts and on-farm biosecurity, tightening expectations ahead of inspections and cross-border trade.

8 May 2026, 06:53favv-afsca.beBelgium

UK–EU SPS Agreement: Defra Updates Business Guidance After Call for Information Closes

Defra has refreshed its guidance on the planned UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement, closing its Call for Information and signalling an ambitious mid‑2027 target for implementation. Agri‑food producers, traders and chemical product manufacturers should plan for alignment with EU SPS rules on pesticides, biocides, maximum residue limits, labelling and certification, as this will reshape cross‑border market access and compliance obligations.

8 May 2026, 06:00gov.ukUnited KingdomEuropean Union

Animal and Plant Health Agency Updates Northern Ireland Process for Export Health Certificate 483 to Singapore

In May 2026 the Animal and Plant Health Agency changed how exporters in Northern Ireland apply for export health certificate 483 for poultry meat shipments to Singapore, routing applications through DAERA’s DECS online system rather than downloading forms from GOV.UK. This mainly affects export administration and internal workflows; Northern Ireland exporters must move quickly to use DECS and the latest specimen certificate and guidance while core certification requirements appear unchanged.

8 May 2026, 05:41gov.ukUnited KingdomSingapore

EU PAFF Animal Health and Welfare Committee Schedules 12 May 2026 Meeting on ASF, HPAI and Animal By-Products Draft Measures

The European Commission has scheduled a 12 May 2026 PAFF Committee (Animal Health and Welfare) meeting where Member States will give opinions on draft measures amending key animal disease control and animal by-products regulations. This signals that new African swine fever, avian influenza, sheep and goat pox, and animal by-product rules are approaching the final decision phase, so operators in affected livestock and by-products supply chains should anticipate forthcoming binding amendments.

6 May 2026, 19:28food.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Iowa Senate Amendment S-5243 Proposes FY 2026–27 Agriculture and Environmental Appropriations and Water Quality Funding Changes

Iowa legislators have filed amendment S-5243 to Senate File 2487, proposing a strike-and-rewrite FY 2026–27 agriculture and natural resources appropriations package that also expands state water quality and rural water infrastructure funding. If adopted, this measure would significantly increase public investment in groundwater protection, ambient air and animal feeding operations oversight, animal disease preparedness, and local drinking water and wastewater projects, changing the resourcing of environmental compliance programmes rather than creating new direct obligations for operators.

6 May 2026, 19:22legis.iowa.govUnited States

Greece Sets Lesvos FMD Biosecurity Conditions For Matured Cheese Movement And Pays €22.7m In Farmer Compensation

In late April 2026 Greece’s agriculture ministry set strict biosecurity conditions for moving matured cheeses from Lesvos and began paying €22.7 million in compensation to farmers whose livestock were culled in recent sheep pox and foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. These measures clarify which dairy operators can resume off-island trade while signalling that disease-control compliance and documentation will be closely scrutinised and that financial relief is flowing, which may influence supply availability and risk planning for affected value chains.

5 May 2026, 14:06minagric.grGreece