The evaluation of Animal Health Law, 10 years after its adoption

To mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Animal Health Law (AHL), the Commission held a high-level conference in Brussels on 8 July 2026. The event reviewed the implementation of the AHL, its contribution to animal health in Europe, and the main findings of the evaluation report adopted on 6 July 2026. Opening the conference, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi stated: “Looking ahead, animal health will remain a political priority for the European Commission.”

The presentation of Barbara Logar, Deputy Head of Unit of SANTE G2 – Animal Health (EU Commission) was arguably one of the most important interventions of the day from a FESASS perspective. She presented Animal Health Law evaluation, the lessons learnt and the future perspectives. The European Commission considers that the AHL is functioning well overall and does not envisage any major legislative revision. The priority is not to rewrite the AHL but rather to unlock its full potential through better implementation, stronger prevention and enhanced operational capacity across Member States.  Looking ahead, Barbara Logar announced that the Commission would be focusing its efforts in the coming years on the categorisation and prioritisation of diseases, crisis management and contingency planning, biosecurity and surveillance, vaccination, as well as regionalisation and compartmentalisation (see her PowerPoint presentation).

FESASS was represented by its President, Stéphane Jeanne, its Delegated Vice-President, Hans-Peter Schons, and its Secretary-General, Alain C. Cantaloube. Our representatives were able to emphasise the importance of the human and financial resources allocated to the Commission and the national competent authorities, which ensure effective investment in Animal Health. Furthermore, we also drew the participants’ attention to the interest of undertaking a review and update of the disease categorisation system. Finally, we called for consideration to be given to ways of supporting and encouraging collective actions, which are effective means of addressing the sense of isolation that livestock farmers may experience when faced with animal diseases.

During the discussions, Dr. Francesco Reviriego Gordejo, Head of the SANTE G2 – Animal Health Unit, referred to FESASS member organizations as an example. He highlighted their ability to mobilize livestock farmers and financial resources to take effective action in the service of animal health. Similarly, Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General of the WOAH, emphasized the importance of collective health activities by farmers’ organizations to support the surveillance and control programs of the competent authorities on the field.
Furthermore, throughout the various presentations, the need for funding for animal health policy was reiterated. The European Commission linked this issue to the proposals in its European Strategy for Livestock Farming.

This conference also provided an opportunity for numerous bilateral discussions. The President of FESASS was thus able to meet, amongst others, Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director-General of the WOAH, Dr Francesco Reviriego Gordejo, Head of the SANTE G2 Unit – Animal Health, and Dr Alberto Laddomada, former Head of the SANTE G2 Unit.

Thank you and congratulations to the organisers and the speakers. We must now tackle the various adaptation measures that have been identified. FESASS and other European stakeholders organizations are ready to contribute.