EU Animal Health Law
The EU Animal Health Law
The EU’s Animal Health Regulation came into force on 21 April 2021. Whilst there is no requirement to implement this regulation in Great Britain, there are some legislative changes that the Government have made in order to enable ongoing trade with the EU as a Third Country. This is to allow the movement of live animals, products of animal origin and germinal products from GB to the EU and from GB to Northern Ireland to continue.
This includes the requirement (in Annex I of the Entry into the Union Act) that all terrestrial diseases listed under the Animal Health Regulation are notifiable in third countries exporting live animals to the EU. There are fifteen diseases on this list (ten of which are endemic) that were until now, not notifiable or reportable in Great Britain. These have now been added to domestic legislation.
Five diseases will be notifiable on clinical suspicion or positive laboratory detection and nine diseases must be reported on detection at the place of analysis (i.e. laboratories). Notification of the presence of Varroa in bees will also be required.
The reporting requirements depend on the specific disease; for some, reporting as soon as possible will be required, for others reporting will be monthly (and for two diseases, PRRSV and BVDV, reporting will depend on which genotype is detected).
The precise mechanisms for reporting are being finalised and will be clarified by officials in due course but both immediate and monthly reporting will be to the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA).
The attached letter from the Government provides detailed information on the diseases and reporting arrangements.
New disease reporting requirements from 21 April 2021
