EPO Participates in the EU High-Level Conference Celebrating 10 Years of the EU Animal Health Law
The conference marked the publication of the European Commission’s evaluation of the Animal Health Law and unveiled 11 priority actions to further strengthen its implementation across the European Union.
On July 8th, 2026, EPO participated in the European Commission conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EU Animal Health Law (AHL). Bringing together around 130 representatives from EU institutions, Member States, veterinary authorities, academia and stakeholder organisations, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on a decade of achievements while discussing the future direction of EU animal health policy.
A Decade of Progress under the Animal Health Law
The conference was officially opened by Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, who highlighted the strategic importance of animal health in safeguarding public health, strengthening food security and supporting the resilience of Europe’s animal sectors through a strong One Health approach.
A key milestone of the event was the presentation of the European Commission’s evaluation of the Animal Health Law, carried out under the Better Regulation Initiative. The evaluation concluded that the legislation remains fit for purpose, while identifying opportunities to further strengthen its implementation and ensure it continues to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
Looking Ahead: 11 Priority Actions
Building on the evaluation, the European Commission presented 11 priority actions that will guide the next phase of implementation of the Animal Health Law. These actions are grouped under three strategic pillars:
- Administrative improvements to simplify procedures and enhance harmonisation across Member States;
- Veterinary priorities, including stronger disease prevention, preparedness, biosecurity and vaccination;
- Cross-cutting actions to reinforce the One Health approach, strengthen animal welfare and improve cooperation between competent authorities and stakeholders.
Throughout the conference, speakers consistently emphasised the importance of science-based policymaking, effective implementation and close collaboration among public authorities, veterinarians, researchers and stakeholders. These principles were recognised as essential to ensuring that the Animal Health Law continues to protect animal health, public health and the sustainability of Europe’s animal sectors.
EPO Looks Forward to Continued Collaboration
As the voice of the pet sector at European level, EPO welcomes the European Commission’s continued commitment to strengthening the Animal Health Law and ensuring that its implementation remains practical, proportionate and effective.
EPO would like to sincerely thank the European Commission Animal Health team for organising such an insightful and well-structured conference. The event successfully celebrated ten years of progress while setting a clear roadmap for the years ahead.
EPO looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with the European Commission and all relevant stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the Animal Health Law and to ensure that the expertise and specific realities of the European pet sector continue to be recognised in the development of future EU animal health policies.
