One Health

Estonian Health Board Publishes Human-Health Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2026–2031

In May 2026 Estonia’s Health Board published a 2026–2031 national action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance in the human health sector, aligning with EU One Health AMR commitments and Estonia’s AMR strategy. The plan tightens expectations around antibiotic stewardship, surveillance, infection control, diagnostics, workforce and awareness, signalling stronger future requirements for healthcare providers even though specific legal obligations will flow through separate legislative and funding decisions.

25 May 2026, 17:09terviseamet.eeEstonia

EU EESC Adopts Opinion on Life Science Strategy and Rare-Disease Research Infrastructures

In February 2026 the European Economic and Social Committee adopted an exploratory opinion calling for an integrated EU life-science strategy that prioritises rare-disease research, genomic data infrastructures and faster market access for advanced therapies. While non-binding, this signals political momentum for revising frameworks such as the European Health Data Space, the AI Act and key food-chain regulations, with potential future impacts on approval pathways, data-use rules and innovation incentives for pharma, biotech and related supply chains.

25 May 2026, 15:36eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

STOA Explores EU Policy Options for Managing New and Emerging Plant Pests

In May 2026, the European Parliament’s STOA panel debated a draft study on how the EU should manage future outbreaks of new and emerging plant pests, presenting four complementary “no‑regret” policy option packages on prevention, rapid response, resilience, and governance. While non-binding, these options point to likely future moves on stricter pathway controls, faster access to biological and other control tools, and more resilient, climate-robust farming systems that agricultural and crop-protection businesses should monitor closely for early regulatory signals.

23 May 2026, 11:17control.eup.glcloud.euEuropean Union

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

US HHS Announces PACCARB Meeting on 2026–2031 Antibiotic Resistance Action Plan

HHS has announced a 2026 virtual meeting of its Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria to gather expert and public input on the 2026–2031 National Action Plan. The notice creates no new legal duties but offers pharmaceutical, healthcare and antimicrobial-product stakeholders an early chance to shape US priorities on stewardship, surveillance, research incentives and related policy directions before future measures are defined.

23 May 2026, 08:54federalregister.govUnited States

Hong Kong Government Outlines Phased Roll-Out of Antimicrobials Transaction Record System

Hong Kong’s Acting Secretary for Health has reported to the Legislative Council on progress with a phased computerised transaction record system for antimicrobials, current antibiotic record-keeping obligations, and the potential use of the electronic health record framework to capture antimicrobial prescribing data. While participation in the new system is still voluntary, the Government’s plans to extend coverage to private clinics by 2027 and to consider legislative changes and eHealth data requirements signal tighter future oversight of antibiotic supply chains for manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies and private practitioners.

22 May 2026, 10:23info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China

Japan MAFF Sets 26 May 2026 Entry Into Force For Revised Acetylcysteine Feed Additive Standards

Japan’s agriculture ministry has confirmed that revised standards for acetylcysteine as a feed additive under its feed safety ordinance will take legal effect on 26 May 2026. Feed additive manufacturers and animal feed producers serving Japan should review formulations and documentation against the updated specifications ahead of this date to avoid non-compliance and supply disruption.

21 May 2026, 06:41kanpo.go.jpJapan

Germany Drafts Sixth Amendment to AVV Zoonoses (Food Chain) for 2027–2029 Monitoring

Germany’s agriculture and food ministry has circulated a draft sixth amendment to the AVV Zoonosen Lebensmittelkette to extend national zoonoses monitoring to 2027–2029, with application from 1 January 2027. If adopted largely as proposed, food-chain operators will continue to face coordinated official sampling for zoonoses under unchanged obligations, while authorities adjust monitoring plans and EU law references rather than introducing new compliance burdens.

20 May 2026, 19:59table.mediaGermany

US FDA Issues EUA for Over-the-Counter Dectomax Injectable for New World Screwworm in Dairy Cattle, Horses, Swine, Sheep, and Deer

In May 2026 the US FDA granted an Emergency Use Authorization for over-the-counter Dectomax/Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection) to prevent and treat New World screwworm in dairy cattle and to prevent infestations in certain other livestock and deer. The authorization expands treatment options during the ongoing screwworm emergency but imposes strict milk discard and slaughter withdrawal periods, requiring veterinarians, producers, and dairy processors to adjust treatment protocols and residue compliance planning.

20 May 2026, 10:03fda.govUnited States

WHO Determines Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda to Be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

On 17 May 2026, WHO determined that the Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations. This triggers strengthened surveillance, screening and emergency response measures in the region and beyond, so organisations with staff, facilities or supply chains there should anticipate tighter health controls, travel constraints and operational disruption as national authorities implement WHO’s recommendations.

20 May 2026, 05:44who.intCongo - KinshasaUgandaGlobal

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

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

EFSA Issues SSD2 Reporting Guidance for One Health Surveillance Data Collection

EFSA has published new SSD2-based reporting guidance specifying how EU Member States should structure and transmit One Health surveillance analytical results and metadata to EFSA. The guidance tightens common data elements, controlled vocabularies and business rules across surveillance streams, enabling more comparable EU-wide risk assessments and strengthening future regulatory decisions.

14 May 2026, 19:22efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EFSA Publishes Evidence Mapping of Risk Mitigation Measures for Animal Vector‑Borne Diseases in the EU

EFSA has published a major evidence mapping (May 2026) on the effectiveness of surveillance, vaccination, movement controls and other risk mitigation measures for 25 vector-borne animal diseases in the EU. The findings reinforce surveillance and vaccination as core tools under the Animal Health Law and highlight knowledge gaps that will steer future disease-control strategy, vector-control use and research investment rather than changing legal obligations immediately.

14 May 2026, 18:48efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

Spain: Galicia Opens Prior Public Consultation on First Public Health Law

In May 2026 Galicia opened a short prior public consultation on a new Public Health Law that will create a modern, One Health based public health framework for the region. While no draft text exists yet, the initiative signals tighter, more integrated governance of surveillance, environmental and food safety risks, and health promotion, so organisations with public health impacts should track and engage early.

13 May 2026, 19:03transparencia.xunta.galSpain

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

European Parliament Public Health Committee Backs EU–Switzerland Health and Conformity Assessment Agreements

In May 2026 the European Parliament’s Public Health Committee issued a draft opinion recommending consent to the Council decision concluding a broad package of EU–Switzerland agreements on health security and mutual recognition of product conformity assessment. While the package is still pending formal approval, this signals likely integration of Switzerland into EU health-crisis frameworks and medical-product governance, so companies active in both markets should prepare for closer alignment of surveillance, joint procurement, and conformity assessment processes.

9 May 2026, 13:28europarl.europa.euEuropean UnionSwitzerland

Germany (UBA) Publishes GerES VI Fieldwork and Data Management Report

The German Environment Agency has released the main fieldwork and data management report for its GerES VI adult environmental health survey, documenting nationwide human biomonitoring and environmental sampling carried out between May 2023 and July 2024. This strengthens the evidence base for future German and EU risk assessments on environmental chemicals and exposures, although the report itself does not introduce new regulatory obligations.

8 May 2026, 06:54umweltbundesamt.deGermany

US EPA Seeks Comment on Wolbachia-Based Mosquito Experimental Use Permit in California and Florida

In May 2026, the US Environmental Protection Agency requested public comment on an experimental use permit application from Google LLC to release Wolbachia-infected male Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in California and Florida under FIFRA. If granted, this large-scale biopesticide trial would represent a significant step toward full registration of a novel vector-control technology, signalling future regulatory and operational implications for mosquito control and public health programmes.

8 May 2026, 06:45public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

EFSA Publishes Report on Second International Workshop on Horizon Scanning for Plant Health

EFSA and its partners have published a 2025 supporting publication summarising the Second International Workshop on Horizon Scanning for Plant Health, held in France under the EU Plant Health Regulation and focused on building a global plant-health horizon scanning community using tools like EIOS and EFSA’s PeMo. For companies and authorities dependent on plant health and biosecurity, this is a strategic signal that EU regulators are investing in more systematic, One Health-aligned early warning for plant pests, but it does not itself change legal obligations for plant protection products, emergency authorisations, or chemical controls.

3 May 2026, 09:22open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union