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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Várhelyi at the Conference on Animal Health Law Brussels, 8 July 2026 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to this conference on the Animal Health Law. It is a pleasure to welcome such a broad range of partners today - from EU institutions and Member States to international organisations, scientists, veterinary authorities, industry a...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Várhelyi at the Conference on Animal Health Law Brussels, 8 July 2026 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to this conference on the Animal Health Law. It is a pleasure to welcome such a broad range of partners today - from EU institutions and Member States to international organisations, scientists, veterinary authorities, industry and stakeholders. Your perspectives differ, but your role is shared: making animal health policy work in practice. So let me begin by thanking you - for your partnership, for your expertise, and for your daily contribution to animal health in the European Union and beyond. Today, we mark an important moment. It is ten years since the law was adopted – and five years since it started to apply across the European Union. Animal health does not always attract public attention. Very often, people only notice it when there is a crisis. When there is an outbreak. When farms are affected. When trade may be disrupted. But animal health matters every day - for a healthy, resilient society and economy. Because healthy animals are the foundation of agriculture and a healthy and resilient food system. And animal health is closely linked to our own health. For example, because of animal diseases that risk spreading to humans, or the threat of antimicrobial resistance. In Europe in recent years, we've faced major challenges from a range of animal diseases: African swine fever, avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, sheep and goat pox, and lumpy skin disease. And these outbreaks are happening in a more challenging world. Climate change is impacting how and where diseases spread. More animals are being moved. Global trade remains essential, but it is also more exposed to disruption. And the geopolitical environment makes all of this more difficult. So we are operating in a world where outbreaks can be less predictable, more frequent and more damaging. That is the backdrop for today's discussion. And it is the reason why the Animal Health Law was needed ten years ago. It is also the reason why it remains so important today. It gives us a common framework to act together. The Animal Health Law gave Europe a modern, risk-based framework built around prevention. It enables us to act together, respond more flexibly, and strengthen biosecurity and surveillance. And when outbreaks occur, it gives us the tools for a coordinated, effective and science-based response. It also allows for preventive measures, including vaccination, where this is appropriate. The Law also supports safe trade. It helps the Single Market function properly. And it gives us flexibility to take account of national and regional circumstances. That balance is important. Because animal disease does not respect borders. But responses also need to work on the ground. That brings me to the evaluation of the Animal Health Law, which we have recently completed. Its findings are encouraging. The evaluation confirms that the Law has provided a robust, coherent and effective framework for preventing, preparing for and responding to animal diseases. It has supported the functioning of the Single Market. But we have also found room for improvement. We need to focus on preparedness. We need to strengthen implementation on the ground. We need to keep raising awareness of the measures required. And we need to ensure that biosecurity measures and tools such as vaccination are used effectively. We also have to make sure that our veterinary services have the expertise, capacity and resources they need. This requires sustained commitment, not just from veterinary authorities, but also from political leaders and all levels of government. The Commission stands ready to swiftly follow up on the improvement needs identified in the evaluation. We have already asked the European Food Safety Authority to review the categorisation criteria and specific challenges of vector-borne diseases. EFSA will also provide updated scientific opinions on: how different animal diseases should be listed and categorised and on how vaccination can best be used in different scenarios, whether for emergency response or prevention. Spending on animal health is not simply a cost. It is an investment. An investment in resilience. An investment in food security. An investment in public health. And this is very well reflected in the Livestock Strategy that we just adopted yesterday. It confirms the link between animal health and the EU's broader agricultural policies. Looking ahead, animal health will remain a political priority for the European Commission. We will continue to work based on science. We will continue to prioritise prevention and preparedness. And in consultation with all of you, we will find practicable solutions to better combat the spread of animal diseases. Ladies and gentleman, Today's conference is an important part of that work. It is an opportunity to discuss the findings of the evaluation. To learn from recent experience. To listen to different perspectives. I wish you a very fruitful discussion today. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1559
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