Farmers in areas under sheep and goat pox restrictions can apply for "de minimis" aid from today, 19 October, until 27 October inclusive, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food said. The aid is up to €8 for each live small ruminant, and the total budget is up to €1.8m.

The management board of the State Fund Agriculture (SFA) has approved the money for these farmers. Applications now open.

Where it began: State fund offers up to 1.8m euros to farmers in zones hit by sheep pox restrictions

Farmers can apply at the ministry's municipal agriculture offices until 27 October 2026 inclusive. The aid covers part of the cost of feeding animals on affected farms.

Farmers registered under Ordinance No. 3 of 1999 who keep small ruminants at registered livestock sites can get the money. The sites must be in towns or villages under restrictions set by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

Farmers who already applied in the earlier round, from 15 September to 2 October, for the emergency "de minimis" aid for livestock and crop farming do not need to apply again. This means less paperwork for farmers, and the money will reach them faster.

Farmers who did not apply for the earlier aid and appear in the BFSA's information on affected farms must submit an application.

The BFSA found pox outbreaks between June and September 2026 in the regions of Plovdiv, Haskovo, Stara Zagora, Kardzhali, Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Yambol and Sofia. It set up protection zones of 5km and surveillance zones of 20km around the outbreaks.

Earlier, in 2025, the SFA authorised nearly €1.15m (2.245m leva) (€1,147,584 (2,244,480 leva)) in "de minimis" compensation for farmers in restricted zones over the same disease. The money was shared among 732 farmers.