Romania Faces an Imminent Veterinary Crisis Due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Threats

Romania is on the brink of an imminent veterinary crisis, considering the outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in neighboring countries and the unfortunate experience caused by African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been affecting Romanian pig farms for over 8 years, according to a joint statement issued by the Romanian Pig Producers Association (APCPR) and Holstein.ro.

The associations are raising alarm about the lack of decisive measures to reduce the risk of these diseases spreading in Romania!

The Situation in Brief:

Multiple outbreaks have been reported in neighboring countries such as Hungary, where quarantine zones have been declared, and preventive culling has occurred in 6 outbreaks. Austria has closed 23 border points and launched a widespread disinfection program, while Slovakia has declared a state of emergency.

To date, over 15,000 animals have been culled in these countries within a few weeks, and the situation remains out of control. The Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus has the potential to spread rapidly over long distances, including through airborne transmission.

Press Conference Held by APCPR and Holstein.ro

On April 8, 2025, the Romanian Pig Producers Association (APCPR) and the HolsteinRo Dairy Farmers Association organized a press conference in Bucharest, attended by representatives from both associations and the National Federation Pro Agro.

During the press conference, representatives highlighted a new threat to the Romanian livestock sector: the risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreaks in Romania, a highly contagious disease that could lead to a total collapse of the meat and dairy production sector.

Considering the imminent danger posed by the spread of this virus, and based on the experience with African Swine Fever (ASF), which has led to significant losses over the past 8 years (approximately 2 million pigs culled, including 150,000 breeding sows), the conference discussed potential measures to improve the management of the current situation. These included strengthening cooperation between veterinary health authorities, farmers, and specialized organizations, as well as raising awareness among the population regarding the risks involved.

Recommended Measures to Address the Threat:

In addition to emergency prophylactic vaccination, the associations emphasize that the Romanian authorities (the Government, Ministry of Agriculture, and ANSVSA) should implement the following complementary measures:

1. Standardizing Biosecurity Measures: It is crucial to adopt a unified set of biosecurity standards applicable both to commercial farms and individual households. Such standardization will significantly reduce the risk of disease spread and facilitate the rapid intervention of authorities in the event of outbreaks, ensuring consistent protection for the entire animal population nationwide.
2. Centralized Daily Communication: A mechanism for centralized communication should be established, through which authorities provide daily updates on the disease's evolution at both the European and national levels. This information should include epidemiological data, active outbreaks, emerging risks, and changes in control strategies. In this context, action plans should be adapted in real time based on new information and the evolving veterinary-sanitary situation.
3. Restricting or Banning Domestic and International Animal Movement: To limit the spread of the virus, it is essential to restrict or even ban the movement of animals, both domestically and internationally. Exceptions will only apply to movements explicitly authorized by competent authorities, based on a risk analysis and strict conditions.
4. Immediate Installation of Disinfection Points at the Border with Hungary: In light of the alarming spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Central and Eastern Europe, immediate implementation of disinfection points at all border crossing points between Romania and Hungary is necessary. Hungary is currently under significant epidemiological pressure.

These disinfection points should be equipped with special equipment for disinfecting vehicles and agricultural machinery entering the country, sanitizing footwear and clothing of individuals crossing the border, managing waste, and dealing with potentially contaminated materials transported accidentally.

Call for Immediate Action

The associations urge authorities to adopt firm and rapid measures to prevent the appearance and spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and to implement effective control strategies for African Swine Fever. Protecting Romanian farms is essential to prevent the economic and social losses caused by these diseases.

Romanian farmers are in a desperate situation and place their hope in the support of the authorities to prevent a disaster of large proportions. Their call is clear: immediate action is required to protect the livestock sector and national meat and milk production.