Romania seeks to unblock sheep and goat exports: Plan prepared for Brussels

Romania is taking proactive steps in Brussels to resume the export of sheep and goats, which had been restricted following outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants and sheep and goat pox. To address this crisis, the country's relevant authorities have developed a comprehensive action plan, which is set to be officially presented to the European Commission for approval in the near future.

As part of this initiative, the interim Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Tánczos Barna, and the President of the National Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), Alexandru Bociu, held a working meeting in Brussels. They met with Francisco Reviriego Gordejo, Head of the Animal Health Unit within the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) of the European Commission, to deliberate on the path forward.

The discussions focused on the specific conditions and regulatory steps required to lift the current export bans. Officials analyzed the action plan developed by the ANSVSA, clarifying final details before officially supporting the document for formal approval. Tánczos Barna stated that the technical consultations aimed to establish a consensus with European experts and identify viable solutions that would allow the industry to regain its export capacity.

The European Commission introduced strict restrictions on the transport and export of Romanian sheep and goats immediately after the initial disease outbreaks were reported. Since that time, the Romanian authorities have maintained continuous consultations with farmers, industry associations, and European Commission representatives to mitigate the economic impact. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, these intense negotiations have successfully identified "concrete perspectives" for unblocking export channels.

The Ministry of Agriculture has expressed optimism regarding the finalization of the plan. Although the situation remains challenging due to the national quarantine measures previously imposed for a 30-day period, the government is making every effort to restore the presence of national livestock producers in the European market. The proposed measures are expected to help restore the confidence of international partners in Romania's veterinary system and ensure the sustainable recovery of the sector.