Tánczos Barna calls for more flexible EU rules so sheep vaccination does not block live-animal exports

Acting Agriculture Minister Tánczos Barna said Wednesday that sheep farmers’ concerns about the impact of vaccination on live-animal exports are justified. He called on the European Commission to make the legislation more flexible so that vaccination can help combat diseases without leading to export bans lasting for extended periods.

According to the minister, the EU rules currently in force provide for numerous export restrictions in cases involving vaccination, even though the European Union’s recently adopted strategy for the livestock sector treats animal immunization as a possible solution. “The problem is that the legislation is still at odds with the strategy,” Tánczos Barna said.

Romania, together with other member states, is calling for the amendment of European rules to be expedited. At the same time, the authorities are preparing vaccination plans and negotiating with representatives of the European Commission.

The minister also spoke about compensation for sheep that have died. The procedure is managed by the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), and farmers with accurate records should receive the money quickly. In cases involving discrepancies between the declared herds and the number of animals for which compensation is being claimed, checks are mandatory. Tánczos Barna also announced that a bill on granting compensation more quickly is due to reach the Chamber of Deputies.