# Romania's sheep sector strained, protests continue > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/fertiliser-price-spikes-hurting-farmers > Updated: 2026-08-05T06:04:34.000Z. Sources: 68. Developments: 13. By late July 2026 Romania’s ovine and caprine sector remained under severe pressure from a confirmed Small Ruminant Pox outbreak and a EU‑imposed live‑animal export ban that now runs until 31 December 2026. The ban, extended on 18 June, threatens the €250 million‑a‑year market that makes Romania the EU’s second‑largest sheep producer. The government has pursued several remedial steps. On 23 June the European Commission agreed to form an urgent expert group of international and Romanian specialists to audit the outbreaks and advise on lifting the export restrictions. The same day Romanian authorities announced they were close to rescinding the ban on ovine and lamb carcass exports, pending the expert panel’s findings. A series of nationwide quarantines were imposed after new disease foci were confirmed in Mureș, Giulvăz and Tomnatic. The 30‑day internal quarantine, announced on 8 July and reinforced on 12 July, restricts all sheep and goat movements, bans grazing in affected zones and mandates rapid veterinary checks. Parallel food‑safety actions included recalls of contaminated chicken and herring products. The export ban forced farmers to shift to carcass sales, resulting in a record 700 000 sheep carcasses sold in August – a three‑fold increase but still far below pre‑ban live‑animal volumes. Breeders warned of looming bankruptcies and a possible decade‑long loss of breeding stock. Vaccination efforts accelerated: on 21 July the ANSVSA outlined a rollout of 1.2 million PPR vaccine doses, starting in Constanţa and Tulcea, with EU backing. Protests persisted. After the 30 July rally in Bucharest, police fined 14 participants, while breeder organisations pledged further legal actions if demands for export relief, compensation and leadership changes are not met. ## Claims - Approximately 5,000 sheep breeders gathered in front of ANSVSA in Bucharest to protest the export ban. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Protesters demanded the dismissal of ANSVSA president Alexandru Bociu. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Police used tear‑gas and irritant spray to disperse the protesters after some tried to remove security barriers. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Vice‑premier Tánczos Barna met the breeders and promised a plan to lift the export ban, to be discussed with the European Commission. (corroborated by 2 sources) - ANSVSA president Alexandru Bociu said he has no reason to resign, citing Romania’s return to the #1 spot in Europe for sheep and goat exports. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The export ban was imposed after a confirmed outbreak of the pest “peste a micilor rumegătoare” in farms in Mureș and other counties. (corroborated by 2 sources) - EU decision 2026/1387 blocks Romanian sheep and goat exports to third‑country markets until 31 December 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Bucharest police applied 14 contraventional fines totaling 10,400 lei to participants of the sheep‑breeders protest. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Eleven of the fines (8,500 lei) were for inciting or engaging in violent actions or disturbing public gatherings. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Two fines (400 lei each) were for violating public order norms. (corroborated by 2 sources) - One fine (1,500 lei) was for refusing to show identification. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The protest took place on 30 July 2026 in Bucharest’s Piața Presei and Piața Victoriei. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: Romanian police fine 14 sheep‑breeders protestors after July 30 rally Romanian sheep breeders protested on 30 July 2026 in Bucharest; police issued 14 fines totalling 10 400 lei, while ROMOVIS warned of further actions if demands on export, compensation and accountability are not 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-police-fine-14-sheepbreeders-protestors-after-july-30-rally ### 2026-07-31: Romanian veterinary authorities impose control zones for small‑ruminant plague and rabies outbreaks Romanian veterinary authorities set protection zones and culling for a small‑ruminant plague outbreak in Giulvăz (Timiș) and urged vaccination and imposed movement bans amid multiple rabies foci in Bacău County 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-veterinary-authorities-impose-control-zones-for-smallruminant-plague-and-rabies-outbreaks ### 2026-07-30: Romanian sheep breeders protest export ban, demand ANSVSA head resign About 5,000 Romanian sheep breeders protested the EU‑imposed export ban, demanding ANSVSA chief Alexandru Bociu’s dismissal; the government promised a plan to lift the ban, while Bociu cited regained export top 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-sheep-farmers-protest-export-ban-in-bucharest ### 2026-07-27: Romanian sheep farmers protest export ban amid disease restrictions About 5,000 Romanian sheep breeders will protest in Bucharest, demanding the lift of an export ban imposed after a ruminant disease outbreak, compensation, and resignations. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-sheep-farmers-protest-export-ban-amid-disease-restrictions ### 2026-07-24: Romanian sheep sector faces deep crisis after EU export ban Romania’s sheep industry is in crisis after the EU halted live‑animal exports due to a small‑ruminant disease, driving price collapse and threatening herd sizes without support. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-sheep-sector-faces-unprecedented-crisis-after-eu-export-ban ### 2026-07-21: Romania starts PPR vaccination rollout in Constanta and Tulcea Romania's veterinary authority plans a PPR vaccination campaign in Constanta and Tulcea, with 1.2 million EU‑funded doses and steps to restart live‑animal exports. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-starts-ppr-vaccination-rollout-in-constanta-and-tulcea ### 2026-07-16: Romania imposes nationwide ovine disease quarantine amid food safety recalls Romania enacted a 30‑day ovine quarantine after a PMR outbreak and recalled hundreds of kilograms of salmonella‑tainted chicken and anisakis‑infested herring in Buzău. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-imposes-30day-quarantine-on-sheep-and-goats-amid-pmr-outbreak-and-recalls-contaminated-poult ### 2026-07-15: Romanian sheep farmers face crisis as live‑animal export ban forces carcass sales Romania's ban on live sheep exports forces farmers to sell carcasses, hitting a record 700,000 heads but still far below previous live‑animal volumes, risking bankruptcies and animal starvation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-sheep-farmers-face-crisis-as-liveanimal-export-ban-forces-carcass-sales ### 2026-07-12: Romania imposes 30‑day quarantine on sheep and goats amid pox outbreak Romania's veterinary authorities confirmed sheep‑goat pox outbreaks in Timiș and Mureș, establishing protection zones and a nationwide 30‑day quarantine on ovine and caprine movements to curb spread; the virus 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-imposes-30day-quarantine-on-sheep-and-goats-amid-pox-outbreak ### 2026-07-08: Romania imposes 30‑day national quarantine on sheep and goats after disease outbreak Romania’s ANSVSA has imposed a 30‑day national quarantine on sheep and goats after a Small Ruminant Pox outbreak, halting animal movements, triggering EU export bans and political criticism. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-imposes-30day-nationwide-quarantine-on-sheep-and-goats ### 2026-06-23: Romania moves to resume ovine and lamb carcass exports Romania's ANSVSA is set to lift the ovine export ban after EU talks, an expert review and an audit, with a decision expected by early July. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-moves-to-resume-ovine-and-lamb-carcass-exports ### 2026-06-23: Romania seeks EU-backed expert group to lift ovine export bans amid disease outbreak EU forms an urgent expert panel to audit Romania’s ovine disease outbreaks, aiming to lift export bans and protect EU farms; findings due July. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-seeks-eu-backed-expert-group-to-lift-ovine-export-bans-amid-disease-outbreak ### 2026-06-18: Romania seeks EU relief as live sheep export ban extended to 2026 EU extends the ban on Romania’s live sheep and goat exports to 2026 over disease risk, sparking criticism from Romanian officials and a push for aid and localized restrictions. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-and-moldova-confront-farmer-unrest-amid-eu-agricultural-measures --- Cite as: Romania's sheep sector strained, protests continue. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/fertiliser-price-spikes-hurting-farmers