Emergency Preparedness and Response

Netherlands Temporarily Classifies Andesvirus as Group A2 Infectious Disease Under Public Health Act

The Netherlands has adopted a temporary ministerial regulation classifying Andesvirus as a group A2 infectious disease under the Public Health Act, enabling immediate use of strict individual control measures such as isolation, quarantine and work bans for cases and contacts. Public-health and healthcare actors should treat Andesvirus with the same urgency as other A2 infections, planning for rapid case detection and containment while tracking whether a follow-up bill is submitted within eight weeks to make this classification permanent or allow it to lapse.

25 May 2026, 15:47zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

German Interior Minister Details Population Protection Pact and Planned Civil Protection Law Reform

Germany's Interior Minister has detailed a new Population Protection Pact with major investments in equipment, volunteer capacity and a planned overhaul of the federal civil protection law following cabinet approval in May 2026. The programme points to tighter expectations around emergency preparedness, coordination with civil protection services and critical infrastructure resilience, so operators and large employers should monitor the upcoming ZSKG reforms and related funding and capability requirements.

25 May 2026, 15:45bundesregierung.deGermany

California Proclaims State Of Emergency And Mobilises Hazmat Response After Garden Grove Chemical Incident

In late May 2026, California declared a state of emergency in Orange County and mobilised more than 785 specialised responders after a major hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove. The scale of the evacuation, intensive air and water monitoring, and targeted methyl methacrylate exposure guidance underscores the need for strong chemical storage controls, emergency planning and public health communication for industrial sites in populated areas.

25 May 2026, 10:01gov.ca.govUnited States

New Hampshire Legislature Passes HB1723 Survey All Vulnerable Electric Transformers Act

In May 2026 the New Hampshire Legislature passed HB1723 (the Survey All Vulnerable Electric Transformers Act), directing the state Department of Energy to investigate how geomagnetic and electromagnetic disturbances could compromise high-voltage transmission transformers and grid reliability. If enacted, this will trigger a state-led vulnerability assessment and reporting programme from 2027 that could lead to new information requests, planning requirements, and investment expectations for transmission-owning utilities and grid operators.

24 May 2026, 21:39gc.nh.govUnited States

UKHSA Updates Heat-Health Alert Action Card for Health and Social Care Providers in England

UK Health Security Agency has updated its Heat-Health Alert action card for health and social care providers in England, correcting earlier assumptions about peak daytime heat and reaffirming evidence-based actions at each alert level. Hospitals, care homes and community services should ensure their business continuity and hot-weather plans, cool spaces, staffing models and communication cascades align with this guidance so they can protect high-risk patients and maintain service continuity during heat events.

23 May 2026, 19:49gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Slovakia: Government Regulation 97/2026 — Amendment to Regulation 1/2016 on Making Pressure Equipment Available on the Market

Slovakia has amended Government Regulation 1/2016 on making pressure equipment available on the market through Government Regulation 97/2026 Coll., introducing EU internal‑market emergency procedures for pressure equipment and assemblies designated as “goods of high importance during a crisis” and updating cross‑references to the national conformity‑assessment and market‑surveillance regime. Manufacturers, notified bodies and market‑surveillance authorities in Slovakia must now be prepared to apply these emergency‑mode provisions—covering prioritised or exceptional conformity assessment, special crisis‑marking and adjusted legal obligations—once relevant pressure equipment is designated as crisis‑critical, with the changes applying from 30 May 2026.

23 May 2026, 19:14slov-lex.skSlovakia

Hong Kong Issues Red Outbound Travel Alert for Democratic Republic of the Congo Amid Ebola Outbreak

On 21 May 2026 Hong Kong issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and tightened Ebola preparedness, including strengthened airport screening, clinical protocols, and laboratory capacity. This marks an escalated public health response that may affect travel, workforce safety, and business continuity planning for organisations with links to Hong Kong, the DRC, or Uganda.

23 May 2026, 11:19info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR ChinaCongo - KinshasaUganda

Netherlands Updates Parliament on Fire Services, Crisis Management and Safety Regions Act Revision

In May 2026 the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security outlined reforms to fire services, crisis management and emergency communications, while confirming that the first tranche of amendments to the Safety Regions Act will reach Parliament later this year. These steps will reshape how the Netherlands plans for and coordinates major incidents, including industrial chemical scenarios, but concrete new duties for operators and sites will only be known once the draft law is published and debated.

23 May 2026, 09:14zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

UKHSA Publishes National Contingency Plan for Invasive Aedes Mosquitoes in England

In May 2026, UK Health Security Agency issued a national contingency plan that defines England’s risk levels, roles and response measures for invasive Aedes mosquitoes and associated dengue, chikungunya and Zika outbreaks. The plan tightens expectations on local authorities, the NHS and other partners around surveillance, incident management and targeted vector-control within existing public health and environmental law, helping organisations strengthen preparedness before widespread mosquito establishment.

23 May 2026, 09:08gov.ukUnited Kingdom

China MEM Consults on Mandatory Fireworks Safety Standards and Adopts Two Disaster Information Standards

In May 2026, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management launched consultation on two draft mandatory industry safety standards for fireworks retail operations and internal dangerous-goods transport, while also adopting two industry standards on natural disaster loss information to take effect from August 2026. These measures tighten expectations for high-risk fireworks activities and formalise how disaster-loss data are collected and coded, signalling stronger standardisation and data-driven oversight across China’s emergency management system.

23 May 2026, 08:49mem.gov.cnChina

Netherlands Proposes Amendments To Wkkgz Implementing Rules For Acute Care Closures

The Netherlands has tabled amendments to the Wkkgz implementing decree and regulation that would tighten early involvement rules when hospitals and other acute-care providers plan to suspend or close services, with application from 1 January 2027. These changes will force acute-care networks to engage municipalities, citizens and insurers earlier, obtain RIVM access analyses and continuity plans, and treat closures as regionally coordinated decisions, increasing governance and compliance workload for providers and local authorities.

22 May 2026, 19:01zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

East African Community Draft Standard DEAS 1352:2026 – Medical Kit Specification

Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have circulated a draft East African Standard (DEAS 1352:2026) that specifies detailed contents, packaging and labelling requirements for medical kits used where access to definitive care is delayed, with comments due by 19 July 2026. Manufacturers and operators supplying medical kits into these markets should assess how the proposed kit classifications, mandatory contents and labelling rules will affect product design, procurement specifications and future compliance obligations if the standard is adopted.

22 May 2026, 18:57members.wto.orgBurundiKenyaRwandaTanzaniaUganda

Pennsylvania SB1328 Proposes AED Requirements at Utility and Electrical Worksites

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1328, introduced in May 2026, would require automated external defibrillators and related training at utility and electrical worksites statewide. If enacted, it would create new HSE obligations for utilities and linework contractors around AED availability, maintenance, recordkeeping, and oversight by the Department of Labor and Industry.

22 May 2026, 18:56palegis.usUnited States

Nebraska Proposes Title 126 Waste Management Rule Changes on Oil and Hazardous Substance Releases

Nebraska’s Department of Water, Energy, and Environmental Quality has published full proposed revisions to Title 126 waste management rules, including stricter oil and hazardous substance release notification and cleanup obligations, ahead of a 24 June 2026 EQC hearing. These proposals signal that operators handling oil or hazardous substances in Nebraska should review emergency response, reporting thresholds, and waste-disposal arrangements before final rules are adopted.

22 May 2026, 18:54dwee.nebraska.govUnited States

EU JRC Study Finds Compound Flood Hazards in Europe Nearly Tripled Since 1980s

In May 2026 the EU Joint Research Centre published new analysis showing that compound flood events in Europe—where flooding coincides with hazards such as drought, heatwaves or windstorms—have almost tripled since the 1980s and cause far higher economic losses than floods alone. This research underpins the EU’s disaster resilience goals and the 2028 European Climate Risk Assessment, signalling rising expectations for multi-hazard risk assessment, early warning design and insurance and infrastructure planning rather than immediate new legal obligations.

22 May 2026, 16:44environment.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Defra Sets Priorities for England’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Review

In April 2026 the UK environment minister set out 13 priorities for the Environment Agency’s review of England’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, with the letter published on GOV.UK in May. The direction signals a shift towards equity, surface water management, long-term place-based planning and integrated funding for flood and coastal resilience, shaping future expectations for infrastructure investment and local authority risk management.

22 May 2026, 12:13gov.ukUnited Kingdom

South Carolina Enacts Hospital Hallway Bed Exception To Fire And Building Codes During Justified Emergencies

In May 2026, South Carolina enacted S0958 adding Section 44-7-255 to state health law, allowing hospitals to use patient beds in hallways, corridors and other egress routes during tightly defined emergencies under strict safety, documentation and reporting conditions. This creates a narrow fire and building code exception that supports surge capacity planning while preserving clear egress, life-safety systems and state health department oversight for hospital operators in South Carolina.

21 May 2026, 08:54scstatehouse.govUnited States

Hong Kong Labour Department Reminds Employers Of Rainstorm And Extreme-Conditions Work Arrangements

In May 2026, Hong Kong’s Labour Department reminded employers to formalise adverse‑weather work arrangements, highlighting its Code of Practice for rainstorm warnings and extreme conditions alongside existing labour and safety laws. Companies with staff in Hong Kong should review and update policies, emergency plans, transport support and pay practices to ensure safe working conditions and compliant handling of absences and commuting risks during severe weather.

21 May 2026, 06:39info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China

Germany Publishes Key Points for Pact for Civil Protection

Germany’s interior ministry has published key points for a Pact for Civil Protection, outlining a €10 billion programme through 2029 to modernise civil defence equipment, communications, training, and governance. This is a pre-legislative roadmap with no immediate manufacturer obligations but it signals increased demand for CBRN and civil protection technologies and a future legal framework that could introduce new standards for emergency infrastructure and protective gear.

20 May 2026, 19:59bmi.bund.deGermany

France Senate Proposes Changes to Security Stock Rules for Medicines

In May 2026 the French Senate received a bill to relax rules on mandatory security stocks of medicines by amending Article L.5121-29 of the Public Health Code. If adopted, this would give marketing authorisation holders controlled flexibility to draw on security stocks while maintaining strict obligations to rebuild inventories and prove continuous supply to the French market.

20 May 2026, 19:54senat.frFrance