The Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) has implemented Resolution 165/2026, establishing the regulatory framework for Decree-Law 127 "On Veterinary Medicine." This was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba No. 75, Ordinary of 2026, on pages 158 to 202.
Issued on August 25, 2026, the regulation outlines general provisions concerning animal health, mandating compliance for all individuals and entities, both domestic and international, involved in any activities related to animal health throughout the country.
According to Article 1 of the regulation, its purpose is to "set general guidelines on animal health to ensure compliance with standards related to the prevention, assessment, reduction, and elimination of risks that threaten, directly or through the environment, the health and welfare of animals and their impact on human health."
Article 3 clarifies that veterinary medicine services "encompass the prevention of zoonotic diseases and ensure optimal conditions for animal-origin products and raw materials intended for human consumption, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health."
The National Center for Animal Health is designated as the competent authority for the entire animal chain, including aquatic animals and their products intended for export and import.
The general director of this Center is authorized to enforce veterinary sanitary regulations, oversee state control in provincial and municipal animal health departments, and supervise the sector's laboratory network.
The regulation also mandates institutional coordination with various agencies, such as the Ministry of Public Health for border control and import/export authorizations of animal-origin foods. It involves the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment for the protection of endangered species; the Ministry of Finance and Prices for contravention notification mechanisms; the General Customs of the Republic for veterinary inspector oversight; and the National Civil Defense Staff in disaster risk reduction.
Resolution 165/2026 updates and replaces Resolution 537/2020, which regulated the previous Decree-Law 137 "On Veterinary Medicine," enacted in November 2020.
The text itself justifies the update based on "Economic and Social Transformations approved, including those aimed at boosting agricultural recovery."
The Gazette No. 75, dated September 9, 2026, is a comprehensive edition containing 19 norms in total, including Law 185 on agricultural and forest land, several decree-laws from the Council of State, and other MINAG resolutions regarding agricultural marketing, plant health, and cattle slaughtering.
Understanding Cuba's New Animal Health Regulations
What is the purpose of Cuba's Resolution 165/2026?
The purpose of Resolution 165/2026 is to establish general guidelines on animal health, ensuring compliance with standards related to risk prevention, assessment, reduction, and elimination that threaten animal and human health.
Who is affected by the new animal health regulations in Cuba?
The regulations apply to all individuals and entities, both national and international, involved in activities related to animal health across the entire nation.
What role does the National Center for Animal Health play under the new regulations?
The National Center for Animal Health is the competent authority for overseeing the entire animal chain, including aquatic animals and their products for export and import, and enforcing veterinary sanitary regulations.