Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi has justified the complete ban on exports of ovine and caprine animals from Romania to EU member states and third countries, arguing the measure is needed to protect the bloc's animal health status and single market following an outbreak of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR). The ban, imposed through an amendment to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, has been criticised by Romanian MEP Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR) as disproportionate and economically damaging to a sector with nearly 12 million animals.
In a written answer to Teodorescu's parliamentary question, Várhelyi explained that the outbreak was detected on 8 June 2026 in Mureș County, with the origin of infection unknown and a high risk of further spread. Preliminary surveillance results from May and June 2026 confirmed widespread undetected virus circulation in Romania over recent months, he said. The Commissioner rejected the suggestion that regionalisation or strict supplementary guarantees could have been applied instead, stating that the temporary prohibition is necessary to prevent transmission risks to other member states and third countries, given the risk of undetected disease circulation. Restrictions may be eased once Romania implements adequate measures, including vaccination, providing sound evidence of PPR absence in its sheep and goat population.
On financial compensation, Várhelyi pointed to existing EU mechanisms: at a member state's request, the Commission may adopt exceptional support measures for market losses linked to disease-control restrictions. Under the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans Regulation, Romania can support investments in restoring agricultural production potential after disease outbreaks and may amend its CAP plan to introduce crisis payments for affected farmers. State aid rules also allow support under certain conditions. The answer did not commit to activating any specific compensation mechanism, leaving the initiative to Romanian authorities.
The Commission's stance prioritises disease containment and EU market integrity over the economic concerns of Romanian producers, who face massive losses and risk losing external markets. The ban, effective until 31 December 2026, imposes a collective sanction on the entire national territory, despite the possibility of regionalised risk management under EU law. Stakeholders most impacted include Romanian sheep and goat farmers, who bear the direct economic burden; EU livestock traders, who lose access to Romanian supply; and national authorities in Romania, who must implement vaccination and surveillance to lift restrictions. The Commission's position reflects a precautionary approach to animal health, with limited immediate flexibility for affected businesses.