The Council Working Party on Animals and Veterinary Questions (Chief Veterinary Officers) is scheduled to meet on 6-7 July 2026, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published by the EU Council. The meeting will address a range of animal health and veterinary policy issues, including the Irish Presidency's work programme, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) matters, risk communication, biological threats, and veterinary agreements.
The agenda includes a presentation of the Irish Presidency's work programme, setting the tone for upcoming EU veterinary policy priorities. Discussions on WOAH will cover governance review and potential membership in the Regional Economic Integration Organisations (REIOS). The Vice-Chair of the EuFMD Executive Committee will provide an update on foot-and-mouth disease control. Risk communication will be addressed through presentations by the Presidency and several delegations, aiming to improve cross-border coordination during animal disease outbreaks. Biological threats will be discussed, potentially leading to enhanced preparedness measures. A Council Decision regarding the EU position in the Joint Committee on veterinary matters with Denmark and the Faroe Islands is also on the agenda, which could affect bilateral veterinary trade and cooperation. Biosecurity at the wildlife interface will be examined, informing future EU regulations on zoonotic disease prevention. Updates on animal health situations include foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Cyprus and Greece, and Newcastle disease in Poland, which could prompt EU-wide surveillance or control measures.
The meeting brings together chief veterinary officers from EU member states to exchange views and coordinate positions. No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in recent records. The outcomes may influence EU veterinary policy and animal health priorities under the Irish Presidency, with potential implications for trade, disease control, and biosecurity regulations.