The European Commission has published an evaluation of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), concluding that the legislation has modernised EU animal health rules but that its full impact cannot yet be assessed due to its recent application. The evaluation, released on 6 July 2026, covers all EU Member States and relevant EEA countries.
The Animal Health Law, which replaced 39 previous acts, established a single, risk-based framework for preventing and controlling transmissible animal diseases in both terrestrial and aquatic animals. It introduced disease prioritisation, strengthened biosecurity and preparedness, and clarified responsibilities for operators, veterinarians, and competent authorities. The evaluation period runs from the law's adoption in 2016 to 2024, with a focus on its application since 21 April 2021.
Implementation coincided with major disease outbreaks, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever, and bluetongue, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which strained national authorities. The evaluation identified key limitations such as data gaps, incomplete national alignment, and difficulty isolating the law's specific effects from transitional dynamics.
The assessment covered effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, and EU added value. The Commission found that the Animal Health Law has provided a coherent legal foundation, but a definitive assessment of its long-term impact requires more implementation time and mature data. The evaluation is accompanied by a report to the Council and the European Parliament.