Romania launches sheep vaccination in line with EU rules to revive exports
Romania will begin a major sheep vaccination campaign by 1 October as it moves to control sheep and goat pox and reopen live-animal exports. The EU-aligned plan combines nationwide vaccination with additional measures targeting peste des petits ruminants in high-risk areas.
Romania’s animal health authority says sheep vaccination will start no later than 1 October, unlocking a plan it says is now aligned with EU rules and effectively cleared for implementation. The move is meant to restore live-animal exports while leaving carcasses, milk and dairy trade untouched. The stakes are high for the country’s sheep sector, where compliance and border discipline will determine whether market access resumes on schedule.
According to ANSVSA, the action plan satisfies the formal and substantive requirements of Regulation (EU) 2022/361, so it does not need a separate vote or formal sign-off from the European Commission. The authority says the final version of the plan and the vaccine request were agreed with Brussels at a meeting of EU veterinary chiefs in Ireland between 14 and 17 September, then shared with member states at SCoPAFF on 17 September.
ANSVSA submitted its request to the Commission on 21 September for as many doses as possible from the European Vaccine Bank, while also pressing ahead with procurement for the balance.
The campaign will cover all sheep against sheep and goat pox nationwide, but peste des petits ruminants only in Constanţa and Tulcea, the Dobrogea risk zone. Officials say the plan has already secured bilateral openings with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel and Libya, though they warn that illegal movements of animals could still derail the timetable.
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