Sheep and Goat Pox in Bulgaria 2026: What Importers of Sheep and Goat Must Do

Key data

If your company imports, markets or works with sheep or goat livestock from Bulgaria, this regulation affects you from now on. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2207, published on 1 October 2026 and effective from 28 September, adjusts the emergency veterinary measures that were already in force in Bulgaria due to the presence of sheep and goat pox outbreaks. As it is an implementing decision of the European Commission, it does not require transposition: it is a rule directly applicable in Spain and in the rest of the Member States.

The previous regulation being modified is the Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160. The adjustments introduced by the new decision may affect the restriction zones defined in Bulgaria, the conditions for animal movement, the required health controls and the conditions for trade in sheep and goats from Bulgarian territory.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/2207 modifies Decision 2025/1160, which was the framework of emergency measures in force in response to sheep and goat pox outbreaks detected in Bulgaria. The specific areas that may be modified are as follows:

• Restriction zones: delimitation or updating of areas of Bulgarian territory subject to health restrictions.
• Animal movements: conditions under which the transfer of sheep and goats within and outside Bulgaria is permitted or restricted.
• Health controls: inspection and veterinary certification requirements applicable to animals and their movements.
• Trade conditions: requirements that consignments of sheep and goats from Bulgaria must meet in order to circulate in the EU internal market.

As an implementing decision of the Commission, its application is immediate and direct in all Member States, without the need for any additional national regulatory act. This includes Spain.

Economic and operational impact

The most immediate impact for Spanish operators is concentrated in two specific operational risks:

• Rejection of consignments at the border: if a consignment of sheep or goats from Bulgaria does not meet the new health requirements established by Decision 2026/2207, it may be rejected at the point of entry to the EU or at internal controls. This means direct loss of goods, costs of return or destruction, and paralysis of the supply chain.
• Administrative sanctions: non-compliance with EU emergency veterinary measures may result in sanctioning proceedings by the competent authorities (in Spain, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the autonomous communities).

From an operational perspective, operators must review and update the health documentation associated with their operations with Bulgaria, verify whether the areas of origin of their animals are included in the updated restriction zones and confirm that the veterinary certificates accompanying the consignments reflect the new requirements.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish importers of sheep and goat livestock from Bulgaria.
• Traders and distributors operating with live animals or products derived from sheep and goats of Bulgarian origin.
• Livestock farmers purchasing breeding stock or other animals from Bulgaria.
• Logistics operators and transporters managing the movement of these species from Bulgaria to Spain or other Member States.
• Veterinarians and animal health managers in companies working with these species and this geographic origin.
• Advisors and consultants in the livestock sector who must inform their clients about updated requirements.

Practical example

A Spanish importing company has contracted a consignment of 500 lambs from a farm in Bulgaria for incorporation into a fattening farm in Castilla y León. The consignment is scheduled for the first days of October 2026.

With the entry into force of Decision 2026/2207 on 28 September 2026, the purchasing manager must verify before the consignment leaves Bulgaria whether the area of origin of the animals is included in the updated restriction zones. If the area is restricted or if the veterinary certificates do not reflect the new health requirements, the consignment may be retained or rejected at the border control on entry to Spain. The cost of that rejection would include transport expenses, possible quarantine or destruction costs for the animals, and loss of the value of the goods. The preventive action is to contact the Bulgarian supplier and the official veterinarian to confirm that the documentation complies with the new decision before initiating shipment.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the full text of Decision 2026/2207 to identify exactly which zones in Bulgaria are under restriction and what movement conditions apply to your specific operations.
2. Compare with Decision 2025/1160 (the regulation being modified) to identify what has changed regarding the requirements you already complied with.
3. Contact your Bulgarian supplier to confirm that the animals come from non-restricted areas or that they meet the requirements applicable to restricted areas.
4. Update the health documentation of consignments in transit or pending shipment to reflect the new requirements of the decision.
5. Consult with the official veterinarian or with the competent authority of your autonomous community if you have doubts about the required certificates.
6. Temporarily halt any import operations from Bulgaria until you confirm compliance, if you cannot verify the documentation in time.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602207