News in the veterinary sector April 2026 – September 2026

27.10.2026 | 5 min | Estonia

Veterinary medicinal product authorisations

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted a marketing authorisation for Nobivac NXT HCPChFeLV, a new vaccine for cats. [1] The vaccine provides protection against five pathogens:

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV), a highly contagious virus causing upper respiratory tract and ocular disease;
Feline calicivirus (FCV), a highly contagious virus causing respiratory and oral disease;
Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), a highly contagious virus that can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and lethargy and may be fatal, particularly in kittens;
Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), which suppresses the immune system and is one of the common causes of tumours in cats;
Chlamydia felis, a bacterium primarily associated with conjunctivitis and other ocular infections.

Nobivac NXT HCPChFeLV is the first veterinary vaccine recommended for authorisation in the European Union that contains self-amplifying RNA packaged in a replication deficient replicon viral particle as an active substance.

The Estonian State Agency of Medicines has also (i) granted marketing authorisations to ten veterinary medicinal products and (ii) authorised the use in veterinary medicine of ten unlicensed medicinal products previously used only in human healthcare (including, for example, a dopamine 40 mg/ml solution for infusion).[2]

Mandatory pet register from 2027

In spring 2026, the Government of Estonia approved amendments under which the microchipping and registration of dogs, cats and ferrets will become mandatory throughout Estonia from 1 June 2027.[3]

As part of the reform, a national pet register will be established and maintained by the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (PRIA). The new register will consolidate information currently held in different databases into a single system. The objective is to improve pet identification, simplify the management of owner information and facilitate the return of lost animals to their owners.

Changes of ownership and amendments to an animal’s or owner’s data must also be registered. In addition, owners will have the possibility to voluntarily register other species of pet animals.

From 1 June 2027, a state fee of EUR 12 will apply to both the registration of a pet and the registration of a change of ownership. State authorities and animal shelters will be exempt from the fee.

We recommend informing your clients about these upcoming changes.

Animal health requirements for travelling with pets

Since 22 April 2026, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 has been in force, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals. The most significant changes from a veterinary perspective are as follows:

Conditions for issuing EU pet passports: EU pet passports may only be issued for dogs, cats and ferrets whose owners are permanent residents of the European Union (e.g. evidenced by a residence permit);
Animal health certificates: New certificate templates apply to dogs, cats and ferrets accompanying travellers from non-EU countries. Animal health certificates remain valid for six months from the date of documentary and identity checks carried out at the point of entry into the European Union or until the expiry date of the rabies vaccination, whichever occurs first;
Documentation of treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis: Where a dog is moved to a Member State or zone recognised as free from Echinococcus multilocularis infection, the veterinarian administering the treatment must certify in the animal health certificate that the prescribed Echinococcus multilocularis treatment requirements have been fulfilled;
Country-code microchips: From 1 January 2028, dogs, cats and ferrets travelling within the European Union with their owners must be identified by a microchip containing a country code. Animals already identified in accordance with the rules applicable before that date are exempt from this requirement;
The regulation also introduces and updates requirements relating to the movement of pet birds.

Court decisions

Assessment of Animal Injuries Following a Fight

In its judgment of 9 March 2026 (Case No. 4-25-2727), the Tartu District Court held that injuries caused by a dog fight may be established based on a veterinarian’s assessment even if the animal is brought for examination 5 to 7 days after the incident. The Court noted that, in such circumstances, the veterinary assessment should be evaluated together with other evidence, particularly photographs of the injuries, witness statements from the animal keepers and medical records. At the same time, the Court emphasised that the sooner injuries are documented after an incident, the greater their evidentiary value and the easier it is to link them to the specific event.