The European Parliament and the Council adopted the Regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases ("Animal Health Law") in March 2016 (applicable from 21 April 2021). Several delegated and implementing acts have been adopted by the Commission to make the new rules applicable, including the list of animal diseases relevant for the Union intervention and categorization of animal diseases.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/169 is in force from 15 July 2026, this amends the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 Annex regarding the categorization of bluetongue virus infection (serotypes 1–24) as a listed disease. This Regulation classifies bluetongue virus infection (serotypes 1–24) as a Category D and E disease. It means that measures are needed to prevent it from spreading on account of its entry into the Union or movements between Member States and there is a need for surveillance within the Union.
Moreover, new provisions are laid down in Reg 689/2020 to define a confirmed case of any disease on the list including BT(Reg 689/2020 art.9):
a) the disease agent, excluding vaccine strains, has been isolated in a sample from an animal or from a group of animals; or
b) an antigen or nucleic acid specific to BTV that is not a consequence of vaccination has been identified in a sample from an animal or from a group of animals showing clinical signs consistent with BT or an epidemiological link with a suspected or confirmed case; or
c) a positive result from an indirect diagnostic method that is not a consequence of vaccination has been obtained in a sample from an animal or from a group of animals showing clinical signs consistent with the disease or an epidemiological link with a suspected or confirmed case.
https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/health/regulation_en
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/169
