Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

EU Council Secretariat Outlines Building Blocks for One Health in Agri-Food Systems

The EU Council Secretariat has issued a One Health in agrifood systems discussion paper outlining potential building blocks for future Council conclusions and inviting Member State input in spring 2026. While it creates no immediate legal obligations, it signals EU priorities around antimicrobial resistance and integrated food, animal, plant and environmental health governance, so agrifood and related sectors should monitor for follow-up strategies and regulations that could reshape risk management and policy expectations.

15 May 2026, 12:09data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Brazil — SDA/MAPA Ordinance 1.600/2026 Prohibits Human-Reserved Antimicrobials in Food Animals

Brazil has brought into force SDA/MAPA Ordinance 1.600/2026, immediately banning veterinary products for food animals that contain antimicrobial active ingredients reserved for human use and tightening controls on highest-priority critically important antimicrobials. This significantly narrows the toolbox for livestock and aquaculture treatments, forcing companies to review product portfolios, registrations, import flows and prescribing protocols in Brazil in light of stricter antimicrobial resistance and export-market expectations.

15 May 2026, 09:40members.wto.orgBrazil

France Evaluates Network Of Veterinary Antibiotic Stewardship Advisors Under Écoantibio Plans

France’s agriculture ministry inspectorate has issued a non-binding evaluation of the Écoantibio veterinary antibiotic-referent network, finding that the existing structure, funding and IT tools are too weak and invisible to fully support prudent antibiotic use in animal health. If adopted, its recommendations would strengthen policy focus and multi-year funding for veterinary antimicrobial stewardship and digital decision-support tools, signalling continued regulatory pressure on responsible antibiotic prescribing rather than new immediate legal obligations.

14 May 2026, 19:27vie-publique.frFrance

European Commission Sets Out Strategy to Reinforce Global Health Resilience Amid Geopolitical Change

In May 2026 the European Commission issued a non-binding global health resilience strategy (COM(2026)197), setting out five priority areas and nine flagship initiatives to strengthen health systems, preparedness and governance in a more geopolitical world. For life-science, healthcare and pharmaceutical stakeholders this signals sustained EU focus on pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, diversified supply chains and support for manufacturing and clinical research in partner countries, shaping future funding priorities and potential regulatory reforms rather than creating immediate new obligations.

14 May 2026, 18:36international-partnerships.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Korea MFDS Announces APFRAS Seoul 2026 Declaration on Food Safety Harmonisation

Korea’s food regulator has announced that the 4th Asia-Pacific Food Regulatory Authority Summit in Seoul closed with adoption of the APFRAS Seoul 2026 Declaration on harmonising food safety regulation and tackling foodborne antimicrobial resistance across the region. The declaration and MFDS’s parallel global AMR conference signal a stronger push toward coordinated standards and data-sharing, so food and beverage companies should expect more convergent and potentially tighter food safety and AMR requirements in Asia-Pacific over time.

14 May 2026, 10:21mfds.go.krSouth KoreaASIA_PACIFIC

European Commission Announces Member State Vote on Updated Third-Country List for Animal Product Imports Under Antimicrobial Rules

In May 2026 the European Commission and Member States advanced the veterinary antimicrobial import regime by endorsing an updated list of non‑EU countries authorised to export food‑producing animals and animal products to the EU, with new conditions applying from 3 September 2026. This will concentrate EU market access on exporters that can prove compliance with EU bans on certain antimicrobial uses, so importers and animal‑product supply chains should review sourcing, certifications and contracts well ahead of the 2026 start date.

13 May 2026, 18:58ec.europa.euEuropean Union

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

EU Water Protection Directives Enter Into Force, Expanding ECHA’s Scientific Role

The EU’s revised water protection directives entered into force in May 2026, expanding ECHA’s mandate to provide the scientific basis for updating pollutant lists, watchlists and water-quality standards. This creates a standing mechanism for tighter controls on PFAS, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, microplastics and other pollutants, raising future compliance and monitoring expectations for dischargers and water utilities across the EU.

12 May 2026, 18:40echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Directive 2026/805 on Surface and Groundwater Pollutants Enters Into Force

A new EU directive revising pollutant lists and quality standards for surface and groundwater is now in force, bringing PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, microplastics and antimicrobial-resistance indicators under much tighter monitoring and control across the Union. By late 2027, Member States and operators will need to embed these changes into river basin plans, permits, treatment and data systems, raising expectations for more advanced water treatment, source control and chemical stewardship in high-impact sectors.

12 May 2026, 15:39eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EP Public Health Committee Opinion on the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) Proposal

In May 2026 the European Parliament’s Public Health Committee adopted an opinion on the proposed European Competitiveness Fund that seeks ring-fenced investment in health, biotechnology, biodefence and digital health infrastructure, with dedicated envelopes for prevention, preparedness, health innovation and health-sector SMEs. If reflected in the final regulation, this would channel substantial EU funding towards resilient pharmaceutical and medical supply chains (including APIs, vaccines and antimicrobials), advanced biotech and digital health capabilities, and pollution-related health protections, reshaping medium-term investment opportunities for health and biotech manufacturers.

9 May 2026, 13:25europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

UN Environment Assembly Reports Seventh Session Outcomes Including Chemicals And Waste Resolution 7/8

In December 2025 the UN Environment Assembly adopted a package of global environmental resolutions and decisions, including on sound management of chemicals and waste, antimicrobial resistance, wildfires, climate resilience and UNEP’s 2026–2029 strategy, and reported these outcomes to the UN General Assembly in March 2026. These non-binding outcomes set the direction for future chemicals, waste and pollution governance, signalling where UN-led workstreams and national regulators are likely to focus attention and resources over the coming years.

9 May 2026, 07:13docs.un.orgGlobal

EFSA Cannot Conclude On Safety Of Glutaminase From GM Bacillus subtilis Strain Glu3-3

In April 2026 the EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes issued a scientific opinion on a glutaminase food enzyme produced by a genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain, concluding it could not determine the enzyme’s safety because the strain carries multiple antimicrobial resistance genes and production-strain DNA could not be ruled out in the final preparation. For food and ingredient manufacturers this leaves EU authorisation for this specific glutaminase uncertain, signalling a need to recheck any use of this enzyme in product pipelines and to closely monitor forthcoming EU risk-management decisions on AMR-related food enzymes.

8 May 2026, 17:56efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

UK Lords Bill Proposes Controls on Biocides in Consumer Products

A UK House of Lords private member’s bill proposes near‑prohibition of biocides in many cosmetics, personal care products, and treated consumer articles sold in England and Wales, alongside new oversight, reporting, and enforcement powers targeting antimicrobial resistance risks. If adopted, companies would face staged sales and marketing restrictions, stricter evidence requirements for biocidal efficacy claims, and potential product‑specific bans, making early portfolio, formulation, and labelling reviews important.

5 May 2026, 06:57bills.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

Brazil (ANVISA) Consultation 1,371/2025 on Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Resistance in Health Services Nears 4 May 2026 Deadline

Brazil’s health regulator ANVISA is consulting on Public Consultation 1,371/2025, a draft resolution that would modernise and extend national infection-prevention and antimicrobial-resistance requirements from hospitals to all health services, with comments due by 4 May 2026. If adopted, the rules would force healthcare providers to strengthen infection-risk management, surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programmes, driving changes in governance, staffing and clinical protocols across Brazilian health facilities.

4 May 2026, 20:02anvisalegis.datalegis.netBrazil

EU Expert Group Issues Cascade-Use Recommendations Under Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation (EU) 2019/6

An EU expert group on veterinary medicinal products has issued non-binding recommendations on when veterinarians may use cascade prescribing under Regulation (EU) 2019/6, clarifying the relationship between Article 106 and Articles 112–114 and outlining illustrative clinical scenarios. This guidance shapes expectations around off-label use, reporting of lack of efficacy and adverse events, and emerging antiparasitic resistance, signalling how EU authorities are likely to interpret veterinary cascade rules in practice for manufacturers and prescribers.

4 May 2026, 14:02ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Australia Suspends Florfenicol Antibiotic Permit for Tasmanian Salmon Farms

Australia’s veterinary regulator has suspended the Tasmanian salmon industry’s emergency permit to use the antibiotic florfenicol after residues were found in wild species, with EPA Tasmania confirming the drug can no longer be used under the permit and tightening monitoring and compliance expectations. This immediately changes disease-control options and residue-risk management for Tasmanian aquaculture and related seafood exports, signalling closer scrutiny of antibiotic use in open-water farming and the regulatory frameworks that govern food safety and market access.

30 Apr 2026, 06:43epa.tas.gov.auAustralia

EMA CVMP Adopts Elemental Impurities Guideline and Mandates New Environmental Risk Assessment Work

In early 2026 EMA’s veterinary committee adopted a new guideline on managing elemental impurities in veterinary medicinal products and launched new workstreams on environmental risk assessment for parasiticides, environmental antimicrobial resistance, and emerging technologies such as mRNA vaccines. These moves tighten expectations on heavy metal control, environmental risk management, and pharmacovigilance for veterinary medicines, signalling increased scrutiny of formulation choices, environmental exposure pathways, and lifecycle risk management across animal health portfolios.

29 Apr 2026, 12:12ema.europa.euEuropean Union

Denmark Consults on Draft Order Adjusting Fees for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Companies

Denmark is consulting on a draft order that corrects errors in its medicines fee regulation, narrows fee exemptions to systemic human antibiotics, and recalculates 2026 annual and application fees, with consultation closing in late April 2026. Marketing authorisation holders and medicines businesses should confirm which products qualify for multi‑year fee exemptions, model lower fees from 2027, and account for refunds of overcharged January 2026 applications in budgeting and compliance planning.

29 Apr 2026, 12:12prodstoragehoeringspo.blob.core.windows.netDenmark

EMA CVMP Opens Consultation On Draft Reflection Paper On MLS Antibiotic Use In Animals

EMA’s veterinary committee has opened consultation on a revised reflection paper reassessing the use of macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins (MLS) in animals and their contribution to antimicrobial resistance across the One Health spectrum. The draft signals tighter future stewardship for MLS antibiotics, with likely implications for veterinary product dosing, SPC wording, environmental risk management and surveillance expectations for manufacturers, vets and livestock producers in the EU.

29 Apr 2026, 08:11ema.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Committees Publish Amendments to Draft Regulation on Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Health Emergency Preparedness

In April 2026 the European Parliament’s environment and public health committees published extensive amendments to the draft EU Regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and health emergency preparedness, reshaping how rescEU, the ERCC and a new crisis Hub would coordinate cross-border disaster and health-crisis responses. If adopted, these changes would strengthen EU-level support for early warning, logistics and strategic stockpiling of medical countermeasures and APIs, signalling future opportunities and expectations around capacity-reservation contracts, dual-use supplies and critical health infrastructure resilience rather than immediate new duties for manufacturers.

28 Apr 2026, 11:51europarl.europa.euEuropean Union