Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard announced on Friday, February 20, 2026, the lifting of nearly all regulated zones in France due to the absence of new cases of contagious nodular dermatosis since January 2. This decision allows for broader animal movement, a critical development ahead of the agricultural fair where cattle will be absent for the first time since 1964 due to health precautions. While most restrictions are lifted, a small area in the Pyrénées-Orientales remains regulated due to a case in Spain. The government's strategy, involving the culling of infected herds and vaccination, has led to over 3,500 cattle being culled out of a national herd of nearly 16 million. Approximately two million animals have been vaccinated since the disease's emergence in June, with vaccination to continue in certain areas in 2026.