The Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) Announces Emergency Financial Support for the Sheep/Goat Farming Sector

The Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) informs potential beneficiaries that applications for emergency financial support in agriculture for the sheep and goat farming sector affected by adverse climatic conditions will be accepted until March 21, 2025, inclusive.

This financial support scheme applies across the entire territory of Romania and aims to compensate agricultural producers in the sheep and goat farming sector for economic losses caused by soil drought that affected agriculture between September 2023 and August 2024.

Financial Resources

The total financial resources allocated for this emergency support scheme amount to 238,795,200 lei (equivalent to 48,000,000 euros, based on an exchange rate of 4.9749 lei per 1 euro) and are secured as follows:

• 107,457,840 lei (equivalent to 21,600,000 euros) – non-reimbursable external funding through the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF);
• 131,337,360 lei (equivalent to 26,400,000 euros) – provided from the state budget.

Application Submission

Applications must be submitted to the county/local APIA centers or the APIA Center in Bucharest, depending on where the applicant submitted their payment request for 2024 or based on the location of their registered headquarters/residence or the farm holding the largest livestock under an ANSVSA code.

APIA centers will provide pre-printed application forms, including documents transmitted electronically by users of the National Animal Identification and Registration System (SNIIA).

Applications must be handed in personally to the beneficiary for verification, completion of banking/treasury details, acknowledgment, acceptance of data, and signing.

Documents submitted as copies must be marked "true to the original", dated, and signed by the beneficiary.

Amount of Financial Support

The emergency financial support is set at 248 lei per female sheep/goat youth and is granted for livestock holdings of between 50 and 300 female sheep/goat youth per beneficiary.

For applicants with more than 300 eligible female sheep/goat youth, financial support will be calculated for a maximum of 300 animals per beneficiary, provided they own at least 50 female sheep/goat youth per farm with an ANSVSA code.

Payment Deadline

Emergency support payments will be made by April 30, 2025, with the possibility of processing invalid accounts until June 30, 2025.

Further details on eligible beneficiaries, required documents, eligibility conditions, necessary bank accounts, and applicable legislation can be found in the ANNEX.

APIA assures all farmers of its commitment, support, and dedication!

Eligible Beneficiaries

Eligible beneficiaries include:

• Individual farmers
• Authorized natural persons (PFA)
• Individual enterprises (II)
• Family enterprises (IF)
• Agricultural companies established under Law no. 36/1991
• Legal entities that submitted a payment application to APIA for 2024 and were declared eligible for basic income support for sustainability (intervention PD-01) under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Required Documents for Application

Applicants must submit the following:

1. Copy of ID card (for individuals) or the legal representative’s ID if applying through an authorized representative;
2. Power of attorney/notarial authorization and a copy of the authorized representative's ID, if applicable;
3. Copy of company registration certificate from the National Trade Register Office or other legal documentation proving activity;
4. Declaration on own responsibility regarding compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
5. Copy of bank account/treasury account details;
6. Document issued by the SNIIA system showing:
7. The number of female sheep/goat youth (1-12 months old) in the farm with an ANSVSA code as of August 31, 2024;
8. The number of adult female sheep/goats (over 12 months old) recorded in the BND system as of February 23, 2025, at least equal to the number of young females for which support is requested.

This document will be generated and printed by the APIA officer handling the application.

Bank Account Requirements

According to Article 9, paragraph (1), letter d of Government Decision no. 69/2025, state-owned enterprises, national companies, and commercial companies must hold separate accounts in the State Treasury, as per Article 5, paragraph (10) of Emergency Ordinance no. 146/2002 regarding resource management through the State Treasury.

Thus, these entities must submit two banking documents:

1. For receiving EAGF funds (optional):
2. Account opened in the State Treasury (50.38.16 "Funds for private beneficiaries under direct support schemes and interventions financed by EAGF")
3. Or an account opened at a financial institution.
4. For receiving state budget funds (mandatory):
5. Account 50.70 ("Funds from subsidies and transfers") opened in the State Treasury.

For other types of organizations (individuals, PFA, II, IF), a single account opened at any bank is required.

Eligibility Conditions

Applicants must:

1. Be registered in the Unique Identification Register (RUI) and have a unique registration code assigned by APIA;
2. Have a valid application for basic income support for sustainability (PD-01) under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, for the 2024 claim year;
3. Own a minimum of 50 female sheep/goat youth (1-12 months old) per farm with an ANSVSA code, recorded in the BND system as of August 31, 2024;
4. As of February 23, 2025 (the day before the application period starts), own an adult female sheep/goat herd (minimum 12 months old) in the BND system, at least equal in number to the youth females for which financial support is requested.

Legislation

• Government Decision no. 69/2025 on granting emergency financial support in agriculture for the sheep/goat farming sector affected by adverse climatic conditions;
• Emergency Ordinance no. 146/2002 on the formation and use of resources managed through the State Treasury, with subsequent amendments. (Photo: AI Generator)