Greece mandates electronic boluses for goat and sheep livestock

The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food has announced that the installation of electronic ruminal boluses in goats and sheep over six months old is now a mandatory requirement for eligibility in national and EU subsidy programs.

For the 2026 Unified Application for Aid, the system is being implemented as a pilot program specifically for livestock holdings with a capacity exceeding 900 goats and sheep. In these pilot holdings, the requirement applies to all eligible animals rather than just a portion of the flock. Starting in 2027, the system will be applied universally to all goat and sheep livestock holdings across the country.

To qualify for subsidies, an animal must possess a Type 1 conventional ear tag, an electronic ruminal bolus with a unique identification code corresponding to the ear tag, and be registered in the Digital Traceability Database for Goats and Sheep. The process requires farmers to order the boluses electronically, after which an authorized veterinarian must perform the installation and complete the registration within two days. Simply ordering the boluses is insufficient for eligibility; both installation and registration are mandatory.