Sheep and Goat Pox in Romania 2026: movement restrictions for importers and livestock farmers

Key data

Importers and transporters operating with sheep and goats from Romania face movement restrictions active from May 13, 2026. The Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1108, notified with number C(2026) 3323, establishes a new emergency framework against outbreaks of sheep pox (Sheeppox) and goat pox (Goatpox) detected in Romanian territory.

This decision is not a minor update: it repeals and replaces two previous rules — Decision 2026/1015 and Decision 2025/2415 — consolidating all current measures in a single instrument. Anyone operating under the parameters of the previous rules must update their procedures immediately.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/1108 responds to the detection of active outbreaks of sheep and goat pox in Romania. These are notifiable diseases with high potential for spread among small ruminants, which justifies the activation of the EU's animal health emergency mechanism.

The measures established include:

• Movement restrictions on susceptible animals (sheep and goats) from affected areas in Romania.
• Restrictions on risk products and materials from those areas.
• Obligation to verify sanitary conditions for operators importing or transporting these animals from Romania.
• Immediate application from the notification date (May 13, 2026), with no adaptation period.

Regarding the previous regulatory framework, the decision consolidates and repeals the two previous rules:

Consolidation in a single text reduces the risk of applying outdated or contradictory conditions. Any operational or documentary reference to the repealed decisions must be updated.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact is concentrated in the intra-EU trade chain for sheep and goats originating in Romania. Movement restrictions can result in:

• Paralysis or delay of shipments of live animals from affected areas, with associated costs for stabling, feeding and logistics.
• Review of supply contracts with Romanian suppliers, especially if they include clauses for delivery within specific timeframes.
• Additional documentary verification costs to demonstrate compliance with the new required sanitary conditions.
• Possible rejection at border or destination of batches that do not demonstrate origin outside restricted areas or compliance with current sanitary requirements.

For operators already working under Decisions 2026/1015 or 2025/2415, it is essential to review whether the conditions of the new rule introduce additional requirements or modify existing ones, since regulatory consolidation may involve relevant detail changes for daily operations.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of sheep and goats who acquire animals from Romania to introduce them into other EU Member States.
• Transporters operating routes with loads of sheep or goats originating from affected areas in Romania.
• Romanian livestock farmers with farms in declared affected areas, whose movement and marketing capacity is restricted.
• Operators of animal origin products (wool, hides, genetic material, by-products) from susceptible animals in affected areas.
• Veterinarians and animal health managers in companies managing movements of small ruminants originating in Romania.
• Advisors and intra-EU trade managers processing sanitary certifications for batches of Romanian sheep and goats.

Practical example

A Spanish importer who has contracted the purchase of 500 sheep from a farm in Romania for delivery in June 2026 must, before authorizing transport, verify whether the farm of origin is located in an area affected by sheep pox outbreaks declared under Decision 2026/1108.

If the farm is in a restricted area, the movement is subject to the specific sanitary conditions established in the rule. The operator cannot rely on documentation issued under Decisions 2026/1015 or 2025/2415, as both have been repealed. They must request updated documentation from their Romanian supplier demonstrating compliance with the requirements of the new decision, and coordinate with the competent veterinary authorities before authorizing the shipment.

If transport is executed without verifying these conditions, the batch may be rejected at destination or at intra-EU border controls, generating costs for return, quarantine or destruction of the animals.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you have active operations with sheep or goats from Romania. If you have purchase, transport or supply contracts with Romanian origin, this rule directly affects you.
2. Verify the geographic origin of the animals. Check whether the supplier farms are located in areas declared affected by sheep or goat pox outbreaks under Decision 2026/1108.
3. Update your reference sanitary documentation. Stop using any certification or procedure based on Decisions 2026/1015 or 2025/2415, as they have been repealed. The only valid reference is Decision 2026/1108.
4. Contact the competent veterinary authorities in your destination country to confirm the entry requirements applicable to batches of sheep and goats originating in Romania.
5. Review contracts with Romanian suppliers to activate force majeure clauses or renegotiate delivery deadlines if movements are restricted by the rule.
6. Consult the full text of Decision 2026/1108 in EUR-Lex to identify the specific sanitary conditions applicable to your type of operation (live animals, products, risk materials).