Sheep and Goat Pox in Romania 2026: What Importers and Livestock Farmers Must Do

Key data

Livestock sector operators working with Romania face an urgent problem. The European Commission has modified, through the Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2321, the emergency measures that were already in force under Decision 2026/1108, updating them to reflect the epidemiological evolution of sheep and goat pox in Romanian territory.

The regulation entered into force on 14 October 2026 — two days before its publication in the EU Official Journal — and is mandatory in all Member States. There is no transitional period: the new conditions apply immediately.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/2321 amends the previous Decision 2026/1108, which was the original emergency framework activated in response to sheep and goat pox outbreaks detected in Romania. The amendment responds to the epidemiological evolution of the disease in Romanian territory, which has required updating the applicable conditions.

The updated emergency measures may include the following elements:

The regulation partially replaces the content of Decision 2026/1108, adapting the measures to the current epidemiological situation. Operators who had already adjusted their procedures to the previous regulation must verify what specific aspects have changed with this amendment.

Economic and operational impact

The most direct impact is operational: any shipment of sheep or goats from affected areas of Romania that does not comply with the new conditions may be blocked at the border or rejected by the veterinary authorities of the destination Member State.

The main economic risks for affected companies are:

• Blocking of commercial operations in progress or planned with origin in Romania.
• Additional animal health surveillance costs: tests, certifications and additional veterinary documentation required before each movement.
• Supply chain delays for slaughterhouses, livestock farms and intra-Community trade operators that depend on animals from affected areas.
• Contract review with Romanian suppliers if delivery conditions or health guarantees are no longer valid under the new regulation.

Since the regulation applies immediately and affects all Member States, any Spanish company operating with Romania in the sheep or goat sector is directly exposed from 14 October 2026.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish importers of sheep and goats from Romania.
• Romanian exporters selling animals to other EU Member States.
• Livestock farmers and farms receiving breeding or fattening animals from affected areas of Romania.
• Slaughterhouses and processing plants receiving sheep or goats originating in Romania.
• Intra-Community trade operators acting as intermediaries in the movement of these animals within the EU.
• Veterinary and animal health advisors certifying the health status of animals for marketing.
• Specialized livestock transporters with routes including Romania.

Practical example

A Spanish company importing lambs for fattening has an active contract with a supplier located in an area of Romania affected by sheep pox outbreaks. Before Decision 2026/2321, it operated under the conditions set by Decision 2026/1108.

With the new amendment, this company must:

1. Verify whether the specific area of its supplier remains classified as an affected area under the new updated conditions.
2. Confirm with its supplier that the animals meet the new animal health surveillance requirements required before movement.
3. Ensure that the veterinary documentation accompanying the shipment reflects compliance with the updated conditions for intra-Community trade.
4. Communicate the new conditions to its transporter to prevent the shipment from being held at the border.

If it does not carry out these checks before the next shipment, the cargo may be blocked by Spanish veterinary authorities at the point of entry, with the costs of detention, return or slaughter that this entails.

What should companies do now?

1. Immediately review Decision 2026/2321 and compare it with Decision 2026/1108 to identify what conditions have changed regarding your specific operations.
2. Contact the supplier or business partner in Romania to confirm whether the area of origin of the animals is classified as an affected area and what health certifications are now required.
3. Review the veterinary documentation accompanying current or planned shipments and update it if necessary to comply with the new animal health surveillance requirements.
4. Inform the logistics and transport department about the new conditions to avoid border detentions or rejections at destination.
5. Consult with an official veterinarian or animal health advisor to validate that internal procedures comply with the updated emergency measures.
6. Monitor the epidemiological evolution in Romania, as the regulation may be amended again if the situation on the ground changes.

Official source

Consult full regulation at 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_202602321