Foot-and-mouth disease in Greece 2026: what importers and exporters must do

Key data

Companies operating with animal products between Spain and Greece face an urgent problem. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1330, published on 12 June 2026 and in force since 9 June, amends the emergency measures already established by Decision 2026/820 against the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak detected in Greece. The change is significant: it directly affects the conditions under which animals, meat products, dairy and any material potentially contaminated with origin or destination in Greek territory can be moved.

Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most contagious animal diseases that exists among cloven-hoofed species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs). When there is an active outbreak, European regulations require strict restriction zones to be established and any movement of animals or derived products to be controlled with health certification. This decision updates that framework, which means that the conditions that applied weeks ago are no longer in force.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/1330 amends Decision 2026/820, which was the original emergency regulation issued by the European Commission when the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak was detected in Greece. This update introduces adjustments in three main areas:

• Restriction zones: The geographic areas of Greece subject to restrictions on the movement of animals and products are reviewed and updated.
• Health certification requirements: The conditions and documentation required for animal products from Greece to circulate within the intra-Community market are modified.
• Intra-Community trade conditions: The rules applicable to certain Greek products (meat, dairy, live animals) for exchange between EU Member States are adjusted.

The regulation specifically affects the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and products derived from these species: fresh meat, meat products, milk, dairy products and any material that may act as a vector for disease transmission.

Economic and operational impact

The most immediate impact is operational: any shipment of animal products originating in Greece that does not meet the new certification conditions may be rejected at the border. This means direct costs for merchandise returns, storage, product destruction and possible administrative sanctions.

Operators working with Greek suppliers must verify that the health documentation accompanying their shipments complies with the requirements updated by Decision 2026/1330, and not just those of Decision 2026/820 that was previously in force. The change in restriction zones may mean that products that could previously circulate freely now require additional certification, or vice versa.

For Spanish exporters sending live animals or genetic material to Greece, the new conditions may also affect the requirements for entry into Greek territory, with possible delays in border controls.

Who does it affect?

• Spanish importers of Greek meat and meat products: Must verify that the health certification of their shipments meets the new requirements.
• Importers of milk and dairy products from Greece: Same obligation to review documentation and place of origin.
• Companies importing live animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) from Greece: Subject to updated movement restrictions.
• Spanish exporters with destination Greece (live animals, genetic material, feed): May be affected by the conditions for entry into Greek restriction zones.
• Logistics operators and customs agents managing animal products with Greece: Must update their document verification procedures.
• Livestock farmers and agricultural cooperatives with business relationships with Greece.

Practical example

A Spanish import company that receives a weekly container of feta cheese and other Greek dairy products must act immediately. If the establishment of origin is located in an area that has been reclassified by Decision 2026/1330 (for example, included in a new restriction zone or its category modified), the health certification that accompanied previous shipments is no longer valid.

The importer must contact their Greek supplier to confirm that the establishment of origin is not within the updated restriction zones and that the new health certification reflects the requirements of Decision 2026/1330. If the shipment arrives at the border with documentation based solely on Decision 2026/820 and not on the update, the batch may be retained or rejected, with the storage costs and possible destruction that this entails.

What should companies do now?

1. Immediately review shipments in progress or pending with origin or destination in Greece: verify whether the establishments of origin are in restriction zones updated by Decision 2026/1330.
2. Contact Greek suppliers or customers to confirm that the health certification they issue or receive complies with the new requirements, not just those of Decision 2026/820.
3. Update internal document verification procedures to include verification of Decision 2026/1330 in each transaction with animal products from Greece.
4. Inform customs agents and logistics operators managing these goods about the regulatory change, to avoid border rejections due to outdated documentation.
5. Consult the official source on EUR-Lex to precisely identify which geographic zones and which specific products have been modified with respect to Decision 2026/820.
6. Consider seeking advice from an official veterinarian or animal health consultant if the company has frequent or high-volume operations with Greece, given that non-compliance can result in border rejections and administrative sanctions.

Official source

Consult full 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_202601330