An outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease has been reported in Greece (Island of Lesbos) in domestic cattle since 16 March 2026. Identification of serotype is pending. This is the fifth case within the EU since 2025. For more information: WAHIS

An outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease has been reported in Cyprus in domestic cattle since 19 February 2026. 33 outbreaks have been detected up to now, related to serotype SAT1. This is the fourth case within the EU since 2025. For more information: WAHIS

The fifth Reflection Board meeting between representatives of RB organisations (from the EU Platform on Animal Welfare) and the EURCAW-Poultry-SFA was held remotely via Teams on January, 16th 2026 afternoon.   In total 16 participants, eight of them from the eight EU platform entities forming the RB, two from DG SANTE, and six from EURCAW-Poultry-SFA, were connected.  This meeting was the occasion to present the activities carried out and outcomes achieved by the Centre since the last meeting, the current Work Programme of the Centre, and to get their feedback and exchange, discuss and identify possible future collaborations and interests.    The presentations is available  here. The topics discussed can be found in the meeting report here. 

7 more EURCAW-Poultry-SFA factsheets have been translated into German!   Take a look here! 

EURL GUIDANCE : EURL Guidance Document on Stability Studies in the Field of the Analysis of Residues of Pharmacologically Active Substances Version 1.1 of January 2026;   Published on 03/02/2026

The 30th Annual Workshop will take place on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 June 2026 in Fougères. The key topics are already listed here, and further information will be provided in March.

A new Good Practice Factsheet is online about on-farm hatching to improve broiler welfare from the start.   In a commercial hatchery, broiler chicks hatch within a period of 24-48 hours in a hatcher. During this time, usually no water or feed is available. Only once the hatching phase is over, all the chicks are removed from the hatcher, whereafter they go through a range of hatchery procedures before they are transported to the barns for rearing. An alternative to this, is hatching on-farm, i.e., within the barn. This way, the chicks have immediately access to light, water and feed after hatch, while hatchery procedures, transport and unloading are avoided.   Take a look here!   For more information see the broiler chicken good practice welfare webpage.

The 16th annual workshop will be held on Friday 11th September 2026 in Bologna (Italy). This year, the EURL will welcome the representatives of the European and Third-Country NRLs in Bologna, right after the EurBee conference. The annual workshop is the opportunity for the NRL network to exchange, to receive news from the partners and to give information on the activities run during the year. More information to come. Stay tuned!

The sixth EU-network meeting between representatives of Competent Authorities and the EURCAW-Poultry-SFA, with the participation of one DG SANTE unit G5 representative, one EFSA representative and two EFTA representatives as observers, took place physically at Anses headquarters in Maisons-Alfort, France in October 2025, 01-02, during 2*0.5 days. ​   In total 35 participants, from 17 EU Member States (MSs) participated, including 22 delegates from EU MSs. ​   Participants took the opportunity to network during the ice breakers and social activities (visit of the Fragonard Museum followed by a join dinner) and exchange on various subject during the World Café and the “Eat & meet” sessions. Four participants took the opportunity to present/discuss their topics of interest during the plenary session. ​   Report of the event here. Link to the presentations pdf: link.  

We are pleased to share a new Thematic Factsheet focused on the most relevant environmental enrichment for rabbit welfare on farm.   For each category of environmental enrichment including physical, occupational, nutritional, social, and sensory elements, the main critical issues and recommendations are highlighted.   For more information see the rabbits on-farm welfare webpage.