Greece to make electronic ruminal boluses mandatory for sheep and goats to tighten traceability

Greece plans to introduce compulsory electronic ruminal boluses for sheep and goats over six months as part of a drive to improve herd control and prevent subsidy abuse, starting with a pilot in 2026 before broader implementation in 2027.

Greece will make electronic ruminal boluses compulsory for sheep and goats older than six months as part of the conditions for access to EU and national support schemes, according to the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The measure is being introduced first on a pilot basis in 2026, covering livestock holdings with more than 900 animals, before becoming universal from 2027.

For the pilot year, every eligible animal in the larger farms must carry both a conventional ear tag and an electronic bolus with a unique code matched to that tag, and each animal must be registered in the Digital Traceability Database. The ministry says ordering the boluses is only the first step: the devices must then be fitted by an authorised veterinarian, who must also enter the data into the system within two days.

The policy forms part of a wider effort to tighten traceability in the small ruminant sector, an area long seen as vulnerable to administrative weaknesses and subsidy abuse. By linking identification, registration and eligibility for payments, the authorities aim to improve control over herds and strengthen the integrity of support programmes.

Industry platforms already used for sheep and goat records are expected to support compliance, but the ministry has made clear that full eligibility will depend on both installation and digital registration, not merely on placing orders for the devices.

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