Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/732 — CELEX:32026D0732 |
|---|---|
| Publication | March 24, 2026 |
| Entry into force | March 20, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Farmers, importers and exporters of animals and animal products from Greece |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Geographical scope | Affected areas of Greece — impact on intra-community trade and exports |
| Affected animals | Bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals |
| Notification reference | C(2026) 2029 |
Importers and farmers operating with Greece face an urgent problem. The European Commission activated emergency provisional measures on March 20, 2026 following a confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on Greek territory. The regulatory reference is Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/732, notified under number C(2026) 2029 and published in the Official Journal on March 24, 2026.
The impact is immediate: movements of susceptible animals and their products from the affected areas are restricted. Intra-community trade and exports from those areas are subject to compliance with health certification requirements. Spain, as an importing country of animals and products of Greek origin, is directly within the scope of this regulation.
What does this regulation establish?
Decision 2026/732 responds to a confirmed foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Greece. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Its occurrence requires the EU to activate emergency protocols to contain its spread within the single market.
The specific measures established by the regulation are:
- Restriction on the movement of susceptible animals from the affected areas: bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals.
- Restriction on the movement of derived products from these animals from the restricted zones.
- Establishment of protection zones with the strictest health controls, delimited around the outbreak focus.
- Establishment of surveillance zones with reinforced health controls in the outer perimeter of the protection zones.
- Requirement for specific health certification for any movement authorised from the restricted zones.
- Application of reinforced health controls on all intra-community trade and exports from the affected areas of Greece.
The measures are provisional and emergency in nature, meaning they may be reviewed or extended depending on the evolution of the outbreak.
| Zone type | Restriction level | Requirement for authorised movements |
|---|---|---|
| Protection zone | Maximum — strictest controls | Mandatory specific health certification |
| Surveillance zone | High — reinforced health controls | Mandatory specific health certification |
| Rest of Greek territory | Active monitoring | Standard intra-community trade controls |
Economic and operational impact
The impact is not only health-related: it is operational and economic from day one. The restrictions affect both intra-community trade and exports from the restricted Greek zones, implying disruptions to already active supply chains.
The main operational effects for Spanish companies are:
- Suspension of ongoing orders if the Greek supplier is located in a protection or surveillance zone.
- Additional health certification costs for any authorised movement, along with the associated processing time.
- Review of supply contracts with Greek suppliers of live animals or animal products.
- Risk of border rejection of goods that do not demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Decision 2026/732.
- Need to seek alternative suppliers outside the restricted zones, with the resulting impact on prices and lead times.
As these are provisional emergency measures, uncertainty about their duration adds an additional risk factor for purchase planning and inventory management.
Who is affected?
- Spanish importers of live animals of Greek origin (bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine).
- Importers of animal products from Greece (meat, dairy derivatives, meat products).
- Farmers and livestock holdings receiving breeding stock or fattening animals from Greece.
- Operators in the live animal trade sector active in the intra-community market.
- Greek exporters located in protection or surveillance zones who need to move animals or products.
- Transport and logistics companies specialising in live animals with routes including Greece.
- Advisors and official veterinarians managing health certification for authorised movements.
Practical example
A Spanish company importing lambs for fattening has a closed order with a supplier located in a region of Greece affected by the outbreak. The supplier falls within the surveillance zone established by Decision 2026/732.
In this specific scenario:
- The movement of the animals cannot take place without specific health certification issued in accordance with the requirements of Decision 2026/732.
- The company must contact its supplier to verify whether such certification can be obtained and within what timeframe.
- If certification is not possible or the supplier is in a protection zone with total restriction, the order is blocked until further notice.
- The company must assess whether it can redirect the purchase to Greek suppliers outside the restricted zones or to suppliers from other Member States, absorbing any potential price differential.
- Any shipment arriving in Spain without the required health documentation may be rejected at border controls and returned to origin.
What should companies do now?
- Identify the exact origin of their Greek suppliers: Confirm whether they are located in protection zones, surveillance zones or outside the restricted areas. This information is decisive in determining whether the movement is blocked or subject to conditions.
- Review all ongoing orders with Greece: Any shipment of bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine animals or their products from affected zones must be assessed before it leaves the origin.
- Verify available health certification: For movements that are authorised, confirm with the supplier and the competent veterinary authorities that the documentation meets the requirements of Decision 2026/732.
- Activate supply contingency plans: Identify alternative suppliers outside the restricted zones — in Greece or in other Member States — to ensure operational continuity.
- Inform the legal and compliance department: The restrictions have been in effect since March 20, 2026. Any movement carried out without meeting the requirements from that date may have regulatory consequences.
- Monitor the evolution of the outbreak: As these are provisional measures, the restricted zones and conditions may change. Establish active monitoring of updates from the European Commission and the Greek health authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Which animals are restricted due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Greece in 2026?
Decision 2026/732 restricts the movement of bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals, as well as their products, from the affected areas of Greece. These are the susceptible animals identified in the emergency regulation.
When did the restrictions due to foot-and-mouth disease in Greece come into force?
The measures entered into force on March 20, 2026, although Implementing Decision 2026/732 was published on March 24, 2026 in the EU Official Journal. There is therefore a four-day period during which the measures were already applicable before formal publication.
Can a Spanish importer continue purchasing animals or animal products from Greece?
Only if the movements are carried out from non-restricted zones or if the health certification requirements for authorised movements from the protection and surveillance zones established by Decision 2026/732 are met. Without that certification, the movement is not permitted.
What is a protection zone and a surveillance zone in the context of foot-and-mouth disease?
These are geographical areas delimited around the outbreak focus. The protection zone applies the strictest controls and is closest to the focus. The surveillance zone has reinforced but less restrictive health controls and surrounds the protection zone. Both are defined in Decision 2026/732 for the affected areas of Greece.
What documentation does an operator need to move animals from the affected areas of Greece?
The regulation requires specific health certification for any authorised movement from the restricted zones. Without this certification, the movement of susceptible animals — bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine — or their products is not permitted under Decision 2026/732.
Official source
View full regulation at the official sourceDisclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026D0732