Peste of Small Ruminants in Bulgaria 2026: restrictions and what operators must do

Key data

Farmers and traders of sheep and goats in Bulgaria face new operational restrictions from 19 June 2026. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1403 amends Decision 2024/3238 to update emergency measures against peste of small ruminants (PPR), a highly lethal viral disease that severely affects sheep and goats.

The amendment adjusts the affected territories or applicable measures based on the epidemiological situation in Bulgaria, following the usual EU procedure for responding to active outbreaks of notifiable animal diseases.

What does this regulation establish?

PPR (peste of small ruminants) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats, with high mortality rates. Given its presence in Bulgaria, the EU activated Implementing Decision 2024/3238 in 2024, which established the first emergency measures. The new Decision 2026/1403 updates that base regulation.

The emergency measures established by this regulatory framework include:

• Restricted zones: delimitation of geographical areas in Bulgaria where special controls apply, depending on the evolution of the outbreak.
• Animal movement controls: restrictions on the movement of sheep and goats within and outside affected areas.
• Trade restrictions: limitations on trade and movement of animals in the sheep and goat sector, both at national and intra-Community level.
• Territorial update: the amendment adjusts the affected territories or specific applicable measures according to the current epidemiological situation.

Economic and operational impact

The movement and trade restrictions resulting from a PPR outbreak have direct consequences on the value chain of the sheep and goat sector:

• Sales and transfer blockade: operators in restricted zones cannot move animals freely, which paralyzes planned commercial transactions.
• Impact on intra-Community trade: Bulgarian restrictions may affect importers and buyers from other Member States who had contracts with Bulgarian sheep or goat suppliers.
• Compliance costs: farmers must implement additional health controls, movement records and possibly quarantines, with the operational cost this entails.
• Risk of preventive culling: in high-restriction zones, emergency regulations may include population control measures that result in direct loss of livestock assets.

Although the measure directly affects Bulgaria, any European operator maintaining commercial relationships with Bulgarian ruminant suppliers or their products must review the status of restricted zones before executing movements or transactions.

Who does it affect?

• Bulgarian farmers with sheep and/or goat farms in affected or adjacent areas.
• Traders and livestock dealers with sheep and goat trading activity in Bulgaria.
• Slaughterhouse and processing plant operators that receive animals from Bulgaria.
• Intra-Community importers and exporters of live ruminants or derived products with origin or destination in Bulgaria.
• Livestock transporters with routes that cross or include Bulgarian restricted zones.
• Agrifood companies with supply chains dependent on Bulgarian sheep or goat.

Practical example

A Spanish sheep exporter who has a closed contract to acquire 500 breeding ewes from a supplier in Bulgaria must, before executing transport, verify whether the farm of origin is located within a restricted zone defined by Decision 2026/1403.

If the farm is in a restricted zone, animal movement will be blocked or subject to special authorization. This implies: contract paralysis, possible breach of delivery deadlines, and need to seek alternative suppliers outside affected areas. The cost of this situation includes both operational delay and additional health and documentary management expenses.

To avoid this scenario, the operator must consult the updated map of restricted zones published by Bulgarian authorities and the European Commission before formalizing any contract with suppliers in Bulgaria.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you have commercial relationship with Bulgaria: review whether your supply chain includes sheep, goats or derived products of Bulgarian origin. If so, this regulation directly affects you.
2. Consult the updated restricted zones map: access Decision 2026/1403 on EUR-Lex and verify which Bulgarian territories are under active restriction.
3. Halt or condition animal movements: do not execute transfers, purchases or sales of sheep or goats with origin or destination in Bulgaria without confirming the health status of the area of origin.
4. Contact competent veterinary authorities: if you operate in Bulgaria, contact the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) to learn the exact requirements in your area.
5. Review existing contracts: analyze whether current contracts include force majeure or health contingency clauses that may be activated by these restrictions.
6. Maintain vigilance on updates: emergency measures are reviewed periodically according to outbreak evolution. Monitor EU Official Journal publications to detect new amendments.

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_202601403