Romania continues negotiations to resume exports of sheep and goats, following the approval of the Action Plan by the European Commission

Romania continues its diplomatic efforts to resume sheep and goat exports after the European Commission approved the Action Plan submitted by ANSVSA. The interim Minister of Agriculture, Tánczos Barna, announced that the next stage is implementing the veterinary measures and completing the European procedures to amend the restrictions.

In his discussion with the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Oliver Várhelyi, the minister presented the measures adopted to combat peste des petits ruminants and sheep and goat pox. Romania supports adapting the European rules so that the export of vaccinated animals is allowed.

The plan submitted on September 11 provides for the differentiated use of the 1.3 million vaccine doses made available by the European Commission. In Constanța and Tulcea counties, vaccination against both diseases will be carried out, while in the rest of the country, vaccination will be against sheep and goat pox.

In parallel, ANSVSA has concluded agreements for the export of vaccinated animals with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, and Libya. Seven other agreements are under negotiation. The restrictions were imposed after outbreaks emerged, and farmers protested in Bucharest for the resumption of trade and management of the crisis.