Greece’s Ministry of Rural Development and Food will provide €38.1 million in compensation to livestock farmers who suffered income losses during the first half of 2026 due to measures taken to contain sheep and goat pox, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on the island of Lesvos.

According to the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) published in the Government Gazette, the measure applies to farmers raising sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs whose animals were compulsorily culled under veterinary disease-control measures or who were unable to restock their farms because of movement restrictions.

“The new Joint Ministerial Decision activates a substantial support measure worth €38.1 million for livestock farmers who faced not only the loss of their animals but also the inability to restart production,” said Spyros Protopsaltis, Secretary General for Rural Development and Food, in a statement to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

He added that the government is supporting producers until veterinary conditions allow farms to be safely restocked, emphasizing that strict compliance with biosecurity rules and veterinary guidance will help restore normal operations more quickly.

What the Compensation Covers

The scheme includes compensation for:

• Animals culled due to foot-and-mouth disease in Lesvos between March 15 and June 30, 2026.
• Animals culled due to sheep and goat pox and PPR between December 4, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

The measure also covers farmers who received compensation for income losses in December 2025 but were still unable to rebuild their livestock during the first half of 2026, as well as pending claims and unsuccessful payment transactions from 2025.

Compensation Rates

The annual compensation rates for 2026 are set at:

• €70 for each sheep or goat over six months old.
• €35 for lambs and kids up to six months old, as well as breeding rams and bucks.
• €200 for each head of cattle.
• €120 for each pig.

Since the current measure covers only the first half of 2026, beneficiaries will receive 50% of the annual compensation amount.

Fast-Track Payment Process

To speed up payments, regional veterinary authorities have been instructed to submit detailed electronic lists of eligible beneficiaries within five days of the publication of the decision.

Compensation will be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.