Press Release: Romania Is Not a Reliable Partner for the Resumption of Live Animal Exports - Investigation from May Reveals Major Violation of Animal Identification Rules and Welfare Problems
Not enough room to lift their heads and no ear tags: Our investigation at the port of Midia has revealed serious shortcomings in traceability and animal welfare.
Following the long-standing ban on the transport of sheep and goats from Romania within Europe, the European Commission has now also prohibited exports from Romania to third countries. A new investigation at the Port of Midia underscores why these disease control measures were necessary. It reveals serious failures in animal traceability, biosecurity and animal welfare, demonstrating that Romania cannot be considered a reliable partner for the resumption of live animal exports. The findings reinforce calls for the gradual replacement of live animal exports with safer alternatives that better protect both animal welfare and animal health.
The current suspension of Romanian live animal exports to third countries highlights ongoing concerns about the country’s animal health and control systems. Restrictions on animal movements within the EU, followed by the suspension of exports to third countries, reflect reduced confidence in Romania’s veterinary oversight.
A new investigation by the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) and Tierschutzbund Zürich (TSB), conducted in May at Romania's Port of Midia, provides compelling evidence in support of these concerns: Investigators documented serious irregularities in live animal exports to third countries, including missing identification, poor transport conditions and rough handling of animals. The findings are particularly alarming given Romania's position as one of the EU's biggest exporters of live animals by sea. Of the 357 live animal shipments by sea recorded in 2025, 152 departed from Midia, meaning Romania accounted for 43% of all EU live animal exports by sea last year.
Investigators found sheep transported without legally required ear tags, the primary identification system in the EU. This undermines traceability and veterinary oversight at a time when robust disease surveillance is more important than ever.
“When animals arrive at an export port without legal identification, it raises serious questions about traceability, disease surveillance and international credibility,” said Magda Romańska, project manager at AWF.
The organisations also documented additional welfare concerns, including trucks with insufficient headroom and vehicle designs that posed a risk of injury. Investigators followed the animals from a Romanian collection centre to the Port of Midia, where live animals are loaded onto vessels for export outside the EU. They observed sheep being dragged by their tails or fleece and beaten with sticks – practices that violate EU animal welfare legislation prohibiting pain, fear and unnecessary suffering.
Poor transport conditions, stressful handling and weak biosecurity can facilitate disease spread and undermine animal health resilience.
Animal Welfare Foundation and Animals International say the findings indicate structural weaknesses in Romania’s live export system, affecting both welfare standards and confidence in veterinary controls.
“Romania cannot ask its trading partners to trust a system that fails to guarantee even the legal identity of the animals it exports,” said Gabriel Păun, EU Director of Animals International. The organizations call on Romania to reconsider its export strategy and gradually phase out live animal exports in favour of trade in food products that do not involve live transport.
The EU is currently revising its rules on the protection of animals during transport. In its proposal, the European Commission states that the revised rules should favour slaughter closer to where animals are reared, replacing live animal transport with meat and carcass trade wherever possible.
Yet, despite millions of animals continuing to suffer during long-distance transport each year, Romania is among the Member States opposing key improvements in the ongoing negotiations, which aim to strengthen animal welfare protections during transport.
Animal Welfare Foundation and Animals International call on the Romanian Government, the National Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), the European Commission and trading partners to urgently reassess Romania’s live export model considering the latest evidence and to take steps to end practices that compromise animal welfare and biosecurity.
The organizations have sent a joint letter to the European Commission informing it of the investigation's findings. They have also filed a complaint with the Romanian authorities.
Download the press release here.
Video showing footage of the evidence collected: https://youtu.be/6xixIqeZ2ow