Romania can export live sheep to third countries, the only exceptions being the counties of Bihor and Arad, where restrictions were imposed due to outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), while the EU only allows deliveries of sheep carcasses and meat, the vice president of the National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) Ioan Oleleu told AGERPRES on Monday.
"The sheep breeders' concerns are justified, but a correct partnership is needed now between state institutions, ministries and everything that the specific industry represents at national level in order to overcome this moment, these restrictions that have been set in place in Romania. Several localities in Bihor and Arad County have restrictions imposed on the movement of sheep because of the emergence of PPR outbreaks. It is very important that live sheep exports to third countries remain open, to everything meaning Arab countries. There are no restrictions on the sale of animals there, and we are mainly exporters, with over 70% of the sheep in Romania," said Oleleu.
On the other hand, he said that only deliveries of sheep carcasses and meat are allowed to the EU from all over Romania - except for Arad and Bihor counties, again due to the evolution of the PPR.
According to him, increasingly more domestic and foreign companies have expressed their interest in buying sheep meat from Romania, "which is a positive thing, because it creates added value."
"As a novelty: increasingly more companies, both domestic and foreign, are interested in sheep carcasses from Romania, respectively the slaughtering of sheep and the marketing of meat in various third countries, which is a positive thing, because this virtually creates added value in Romania. There are also countries with which we already have a tradition of live animal exchanges, where the demand for live animals remains high at certain times due to local religious traditions," he also mentioned.
Dozens of shepherds protested on Monday in Victoriei Square the restrictions imposed on the exports of live sheep to the EU following the confirmation of a PPR outbreak in Gepiu, Bihor County, on March 5.
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