TBILISI, January 29 – Georgia has introduced a new compensation scheme for farmers whose livestock die from rabies, under a government decree that took effect on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
By a government decree, owners of cattle and small livestock, including sheep, goats, and pigs, will be eligible for partial compensation if an animal dies after being infected with rabies.
According to the National Food Agency of Georgia, the measure is intended to encourage animal owners to report suspected or confirmed rabies cases promptly. The agency says early reporting will help prevent the spread of the disease among animals and reduce the risk to humans.
Compensation will be paid only if several conditions are met. The rabies infection must be confirmed by laboratory testing. Both the animal and its owner must be registered in Georgia’s unified national database. The animal’s holding must also be registered, and the animal must have been identified and registered at least 15 days before the infection was detected. Owners must comply with all obligations set out in the decree.
Compensation will not be granted if an owner refuses to vaccinate livestock against rabies during a quarantine period in an infected or high-risk area, and the animal contracts rabies within one year of that refusal.
The amount of compensation will be determined by a specially appointed commission, based on data recorded in the national database.
Georgia already operates a similar system for other animal diseases. Since 2024, a separate government decree has provided compensation for livestock deaths caused by anthrax.
The National Food Agency said that compensation for anthrax-related livestock deaths was paid in August last year, with support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO.
