Agriculture & Animal Farming

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027

• CAP Strategic Plans Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 – objectives, eco-schemes, conditionality, interventions via national CSPs. This Regulation sets the framework for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027, defining how each EU Member State designs and implements its national CAP Strategic Plan. It governs direct payments, rural development, and environmental measures, aiming to make European agriculture more sustainable, competitive, and resilient. The Regulation links financial support to clear conditions on climate action, biodiversity, and good agricultural practices, ensuring that public funding delivers both economic and ecological benefits.

• Horizontal Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 – financing, management, monitoring (paying agencies, controls, penalties). Consolidated to 25 May 2024. The Horizontal Regulation complements the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation by setting out the rules for financing, managing, and monitoring the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It defines how EU agricultural funds are administered, audited, and controlled through national paying agencies and certification bodies. The Regulation ensures transparency, accountability, and proper use of EU funds, strengthening financial discipline and environmental compliance across all Member States.

• Implementation – Commission pages on CAP Strategic Plans (overview and country factsheets). The European Commission provides an official overview of all national CAP Strategic Plans, including summaries, factsheets, and implementation updates for each EU Member State. These pages track how countries apply the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027, detailing funding priorities, environmental measures, and rural development objectives. They ensure transparency and comparability in how agricultural support is delivered across Europe.

Official controls & “umbrella” food chain acts

• Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 – competent authorities, border controls, enforcement across food, feed, animal/plant health & welfare. The Official Controls Regulation establishes a uniform system of inspections and enforcement across the entire EU food and agriculture chain. It sets the rules for how authorities monitor food safety, feed quality, animal health, plant protection, and animal welfare, ensuring compliance with EU standards from farm to consumer. The Regulation strengthens transparency, traceability, and trust by requiring consistent official controls in every Member State.

• Animal Health Law (EU) 2016/429 – single rulebook for transmissible animal diseases (One-Health approach). The Animal Health Law creates a comprehensive framework for preventing and controlling animal diseases across the European Union. It brings together dozens of previous directives into one modern rulebook, covering disease surveillance, biosecurity, animal movements, and emergency measures. The Regulation promotes a “One Health” approach, recognising the close link between animal health, public health, and environmental protection.

• Plant Health Law (EU) 2016/2031 – protective measures vs. plant pests; replaced 2000/29/EC. – The Plant Health Law sets out the EU’s framework for protecting plants and crops from harmful pests and diseases. It strengthens prevention, early detection, and control measures for plant health threats, especially in cross-border trade and imports. The Regulation ensures that plants, seeds, and plant products circulate safely within the EU, supporting sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and food security.

Feed, veterinary medicines, and by-products

• Feed Hygiene Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 – registration/approval of feed business operators, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) for feed. The Feed Hygiene Regulation establishes uniform hygiene and safety requirements for animal feed across the European Union. It requires all feed business operators to be registered or approved and to apply HACCP-based controls throughout production, storage, and transport. The Regulation ensures that feed is safe for animals and the food chain, forming a key part of the EU’s “farm to fork” safety system.

• Feed Additives Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 – authorisation, placing on market, labelling of additives. The Feed Additives Regulation sets the rules for authorising, using, and labelling feed additives in the European Union. It ensures that all additives—such as vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, or flavourings—are safe for animals, consumers, and the environment before being placed on the market. The Regulation promotes transparency, scientific assessment, and traceability, supporting both animal welfare and food safety across the EU feed sector.

• Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation (EU) 2019/6 – new regime since 28 Jan 2022 (availability, AMR controls, Union databases). The Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation modernises and harmonises the rules for authorising, manufacturing, distributing, and using veterinary medicines across the European Union. It aims to ensure high standards of animal health, food safety, and public health, while also reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Regulation simplifies market authorisations, improves access to medicines for all animal species, and strengthens oversight of veterinary prescriptions and pharmacovigilance.