EU recommends vaccination to fight goat and sheep pox in Greece
The European Commission has urged Greece to use vaccination to control goat and sheep pox, Health Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said in Brussels, while stressing that national authorities are responsible for implementing measures.
“Infected animals must be culled and vaccines must be used to reduce pressure,” Varhelyi said, noting that EU rules on the disease apply equally across all member states. He confirmed he raised the issue during a meeting with Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras in October, highlighting the outbreak’s heavy toll on Greek farmers and the risk of cross-border spread.
Greek officials have argued that vaccination alone cannot stop transmission and that strict biosecurity measures remain necessary. EU authorities said vaccination should form part of Greece’s national response, adding that vaccines can be authorized for emergency use even without EU-wide approval.
The Commission also confirmed it can supply doses from the EU vaccine bank and that exports of processed dairy products, including feta, are allowed under EU rules when proper guarantees are met.
