This Week in Hospitality & Retail — Brussels (#31, 2026)
Dog and cat welfare: new Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 enters into force; Avian influenza: Commission Decision (EU) 2026/1944 updates emergency zones; NZ animal imports: updated certification rules.
August 09, 2026 to August 15, 2026
Dog and cat welfare: new Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 enters into force; Avian influenza: Commission Decision (EU) 2026/1944 updates emergency zones; NZ animal imports: updated certification rules.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats enters into force
Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 of 17 June 2026 establishes minimum requirements for the welfare of dogs and cats bred or kept in establishments, as well as robust traceability mechanisms for all dogs and cats placed on the Union market. The regulation applies to operators, pet owners, and importers, and introduces mandatory identification of animals via a microchip and registration in interoperable national databases, rolling out between 2030 and 2041 depending on category. Animal welfare standards require adequate housing, feeding, health monitoring, limits on breeding frequencies, and prohibit commercial practices deemed detrimental to animal well-being or consumer protection. Entry into force is from 31 August 2028, with phased application for key provisions through 2041. The regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Commission Decision (EU) 2026/1944: Emergency zones updated following avian influenza outbreak
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1944 of 7 August 2026 amends the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, updating emergency disease control zones in Germany following a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in Lower Saxony. The protection and surveillance zones established by the German authorities have been reviewed and formally adopted at EU level to prevent disruption of poultry trade and ensure consistent disease control measures. The changes are based on Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and take immediate effect.
Updated certification rules for animal imports from New Zealand
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1936 of 5 August 2026 sets out certification rules and a model health certificate for entry into the Union of live animals and animal products from New Zealand, aligning with Union standards and repealing Decision (EU) 2015/1901. The new model certificate establishes equivalence for animal and public health measures under the 1996 EU-New Zealand Agreement, and incorporates additional guarantees for antimicrobials, humane treatment, and specific disease provisions. Transitional arrangements allow continued use of previous certificates until 2 March 2027.
EU–Switzerland Joint Veterinary Committee amends animal health provisions
Decision No 1/2026 of the EU–Switzerland Joint Veterinary Committee, adopted on 24 July 2026, amends Appendices 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 10 to Annex 11 of the bilateral Agreement on trade in agricultural products. Changes update references to animal health regulations, simplify disease-free status recognition, streamline specified risk material provisions, and integrate Switzerland into the IMSOC information management system for official controls. Measures on antimicrobial resistance align with Regulation (EU) 2019/6.
What We're Reading This Week
- Britons lead spending, but average tourist spend in Portugal falls: Despite British tourists topping spending charts, overall visitor expenditure in Portugal has declined, raising concerns for the tourism sector.
- Inside Lisbon’s new boutique hotel designed like a village: Lisbon’s latest boutique hotel offers guests a unique village-inspired experience with intimate, interconnected spaces and local charm.
