Sheep and Goat Pox in Greece 2026: new restricted zones and what importers and livestock farmers must do

Key data

Operators trading in sheep and goats from Greece face an active regulatory change from August 4, 2026. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1931 amends the previous Decision 2024/2207, which established the first emergency measures against outbreaks of sheep and goat pox (Poxvirus) detected in Greek territory.

The revision is not a minor adjustment: it updates the restricted zones, the permitted animal movements and the health conditions applicable. This means that the protocols your company or farm has been using until now may have become outdated overnight.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/1931 is an emergency amendment to the base rule (Decision 2024/2207). Its objective is to adapt health measures to the actual evolution of Poxvirus outbreaks in Greece. The specific changes it introduces are:

The regulation is immediately applicable in all EU Member States. It does not require national transposition: it enters into force directly on August 4, 2026, the date of the Decision itself.

The scope of application covers:

• Export and import of live sheep and goats from and to the affected zones in Greece.
• Trade in derived products from sheep and goats from those zones.
• Intra-community movements of small ruminants originating in Greece.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact is concentrated on two fronts: the suspension or conditioning of already planned shipments and the need to update veterinary documentation for any ongoing or future operation.

• Blocked operations: Any movement of animals or products from zones that now fall within the new restricted areas will be suspended or subject to additional conditions until correct certification is obtained.
• Certification costs: Operators will need to obtain updated veterinary certificates in accordance with the new requirements. This involves coordination with Greek official veterinary services and, where applicable, with the authorities of the destination Member State.
• Risk of border rejection: Shipments arriving with documentation based on the previous rule (2024/2207) without updating may be rejected in veterinary controls of the destination Member State or at border inspection posts.
• Supply chain impact: Slaughterhouses, meat and dairy industries that depend on supply of Greek small ruminants must review their contracts and delivery schedules.

Who does it affect?

• Greek livestock farmers with farms in the updated restricted zones: their animals are subject to the new movement conditions.
• Greek exporters of sheep, goats and their products to other EU Member States.
• European importers (including Spanish ones) who receive or plan to receive animals or products from Greece.
• Official veterinary authorities of all Member States: must apply the new controls and accept only certificates in accordance with the updated rule.
• Logistics operators and transporters managing the movement of small ruminants originating in Greece.
• Meat and dairy industries processing animals or products of Greek origin.

Practical example

A Spanish importer who has contracted the purchase of a batch of lambs from a Greek region that, with the 2026 update, is now included in the new restricted zones, faces the following situation:

• The health certificate issued by the Greek official veterinarian must reflect the requirements of Decision 2026/1931, not those of the previous 2024 rule.
• If the batch is already in transit with documentation based on the 2024 rule, the importer must urgently contact their supplier and veterinary authorities to verify whether the shipment meets the new conditions or must be retained at the border inspection post.
• If the zone of origin of the batch has become a restricted zone, the movement may be subject to additional requirements (diagnostic tests, quarantine periods, destination restrictions) or directly prohibited until further update.

The key is to act before the shipment leaves the origin, not when it is already on the way.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your supply zones are affected: Consult the full text of Decision 2026/1931 to identify whether the Greek regions from which you receive animals or products are included in the new updated restricted zones.
2. Review all shipments in progress or planned: Contact your Greek suppliers to confirm that the veterinary documentation for each batch is issued in accordance with the requirements of the updated rule (2026/1931), not the previous one (2024/2207).
3. Update internal reception protocols: Instruct your purchasing, logistics and quality control departments to reject or place in administrative quarantine any shipment with certification based on the previous rule without express validation.
4. Coordinate with official veterinary authorities: If you are an importer, contact the border inspection post or the competent authority in your autonomous community to confirm the control requirements applicable to new shipments.
5. Review contracts with Greek suppliers: Include clauses for updated regulatory compliance and establish who bears the costs in case of rejection due to non-compliant documentation.
6. Maintain continuous monitoring: Emergency measures for animal disease outbreaks are updated frequently according to epidemiological evolution. Establish an alert system to detect new amendments to Decision 2024/2207.

Official source

Consult full regulation at official source — Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1931, EU Official Journal

Notice: 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_202601931