Greece has launched a €56 million emergency support package for livestock farmers affected by sheep and goat pox and plague, including compensation for culled animals and expanded feed subsidies announced the Ministries of National Economy & Finance and Rural Development & Food.
The support includes €28.5 million in income compensation for animals culled due to disease, and an additional €27.5 million to expand feed subsidies, increasing earlier support by 50%.
Authorities are coordinating efforts to ensure payments are issued by the end of the year.
A total of €28.5 million will be allocated from the state budget for the estimated 450,000 animals culled in 2024–2025 due to sheep and goat pox and plague. Approximately 2,200 farmers are expected to qualify, with the average compensation per farmer estimated at €13,000.
Compensation rates:
€70 per culled sheep or goat over 6 months old
€35 per culled lamb or kid under 6 months, and male breeding animals over 6 months
Payments will be made by the Ministry of Rural Development once regional authorities submit verified animal culling data, in accordance with joint ministerial decisions 4308/315328/2024 and 59322/26923/2025.
Under EU Regulation 2022/2472, income-loss support is permitted for herds under mandatory health isolation or facing difficulty reconstituting stock.
Due to the prolonged spread of pox into the second half of 2025, the government will provide an additional 50% increase to the original feed subsidy, costing €27.5 million.
Farmers have already received support of €14, €6, or €4 per animal, depending on the region and length of movement restrictions. With the 50% increase, the final subsidy rises to €21, €9, or €6 per animal.
Recent and upcoming payments include:
€44.7 million paid on 27 October 2025 to 39,820 farmers under the De Minimis scheme
An additional €10 million expected shortly for around 34,000 eligible farmers
With the new increase, total feed support reaches €82 million
Including ongoing regional payments for culling and forthcoming additional allocations, total national support linked to the disease outbreaks is forecast to surpass €180 million.
Source - https://greekcitytimes.com
