EU widens sheep and goat pox restricted zones in Romania

The European Commission has extended the emergency restricted zones for sheep pox and goat pox in Romania, tightening movement controls for ovine and caprine holdings after five new outbreaks were reported. The measure is set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1956 of 20 August 2026, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series) on 24 August 2026, which amends the earlier Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1108.

The decision, notified under document C(2026) 5940 and addressed to Romania, was adopted under Article 259(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (the Animal Health Law) and is consistent with the rules of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. Only the Romanian text is authentic, and the act carries EEA relevance.

New outbreaks and affected counties

Between 6 and 14 August 2026, Romania notified the Commission of five additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments keeping ovine and caprine animals, located outside the protection and surveillance zones previously listed in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1108. The outbreaks were recorded in four counties:

• Constanța (two outbreaks, references RO-CAPRIPOX-2026-00010 and 00011)
• Tulcea (RO-CAPRIPOX-2026-00007)
• Vâlcea (RO-CAPRIPOX-2026-00009)
• Gorj (RO-CAPRIPOX-2026-00008 and 00012)

Adjusted restricted zones

In line with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, the restricted zone comprises protection, surveillance and further restricted zones. The new decision replaces the annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1108, adjusting the areas and the duration of the measures to be applied:

• Protection zones of a 5-kilometre radius around each confirmed outbreak, applicable until dates between 16 and 29 September 2026.
• Surveillance zones of a 20-kilometre radius, applicable until dates between 4 and 17 October 2026.
• Further restricted zones covering the entire counties of Ialomița, Buzău, Brăila, Iași, Neamț, Gorj, Vâlcea, Hunedoara, Tulcea and Constanța, applicable until 17 October 2026.
• Additional areas in Mureș, Cluj and Bistrița-Năsăud counties, applicable from 18 October to 15 November 2026.

The size of the zones and the duration of the measures were set on the basis of the criteria in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and the rules of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, taking into account the epidemiological situation across the whole of Romania and the risk of further spread. The durations also follow the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Why it matters

Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease that can severely hit the profitability of farming and disrupt movements of animals and their products both within the Union and in exports to third countries. Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation, the emergency measures apply as soon as possible to prevent the disease from spreading from the affected establishments to other parts of Romania or to other Member States. The decision was signed in Brussels on 20 August 2026 by Olivér Várhelyi, Member of the Commission, and follows the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, 24.8.2026 (official reference: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1956, CELEX L_202601956).