The text places larger emphasis on animal husbandry and reduced use of antimicrobials at farm level.

“The new rules put more emphasis on prevention, in line with Parliament's long-standing position,” the European Parliament said in a statement after the vote. “All farmers and other animal owners and traders will be obliged to apply the principles of good animal husbandry and a prudent, responsible use of veterinary medicines and the Commission should keep an eye on the actual use of animal antimicrobials in member states and regularly publish comparable and sufficiently detailed data to this end.”

The 550-page legislation refers to the European Commission to set detailed rules on measures such as movement restrictions, culls and farming restrictions in and around farms affected by disease outbreaks.

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It sets a list of diseases triggering such measures, including African swine fever, avian flu and foot-and-mouth disease, and allows the Commission to take urgent measures in the case of previously uncommon, “emerging” infections.

The new legislation involves farming and veterinary organisations in the preparation of contingency plans.

“It’s merging the 36 different laws into one single law. I think this is a victory,” said the legislation’s rapporteur rapporteur Jasenko Selimovic, adding that the legislation had been in the works for 40 years.

The final legislation is expected to be rubberstamped by all MEPs next month.

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