On 13 July 2026, the Council of the EU approved conclusions committing to integrate the One Health approach across all EU agrifood system policies, affecting Member States, the European Commission, and all stakeholders in the food chain. The approach aims to shift focus from crisis management to cost-effective prevention, generating long-term savings and strengthening resilience.
The conclusions define One Health as an integrated approach balancing human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health, recognising their interdependence. Key domains addressed include human health (prevention of food/water-borne diseases, healthy diets), animal health/welfare (biosecurity, prudent antimicrobial use, vaccination), plant health (surveillance, integrated pest management), and ecosystem health (sustainable production, agroecology). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is highlighted as a cross-sectoral risk requiring coordinated action based on EU legislation and international standards.
Implementation requires breaking down institutional silos, involving all stakeholders, and integrating One Health into international standard-setting bodies such as Codex Alimentarius, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The Commission and Member States are invited to support coordination, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, while avoiding undue administrative burdens. International cooperation is to be strengthened with the Quadripartite (FAO, WHO, WOAH, UNEP), Codex, IPPC, CGIAR, and WTO frameworks.
Policy orientations and trade-offs The conclusions prioritise prevention over crisis response, which could reduce long-term costs but may require upfront investment in surveillance, biosecurity, and sustainable practices. The emphasis on cross-sectoral collaboration may challenge existing institutional silos, potentially leading to more coherent policies but also requiring coordination efforts. The commitment to avoid undue administrative burdens suggests a balance between regulatory oversight and flexibility for stakeholders.
Impact on stakeholders - EU producers (farmers, food processors): May face new requirements for biosecurity, antimicrobial use, and sustainable production, increasing compliance costs but potentially improving market access and resilience. - EU consumers: Could benefit from safer food, reduced AMR risks, and healthier diets, but may see higher prices if producers pass on costs. - National authorities: Will need to coordinate across ministries (health, agriculture, environment) and invest in capacity building, potentially straining budgets but improving policy coherence. - International partners: Strengthened cooperation with Quadripartite and standard-setting bodies may enhance global health security, but could also impose additional reporting or alignment requirements.
Institutional follow-up The conclusions invite the Commission and Member States to report on implementation progress. The Commission may propose legislative or non-legislative initiatives to operationalise One Health, while Member States are expected to integrate the approach into national strategies. The next steps will likely involve discussions in relevant Council preparatory bodies and potential engagement with the European Parliament.