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Farmers Demand Equal Measures for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Both Areas of Cyprus

Published March 16, 2026, 13:49
Farmers Demand Equal Measures for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Both Areas of Cyprus

Agricultural organizations are expressing serious concern about the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and are calling for the implementation of the same measures in both the free areas and the occupied territories to prevent further transmission of the disease. Farmers point out that animal culling continues and that the failure to apply common measures creates a dangerous environment for livestock farming throughout Cyprus. The President of the Sheep and Goat Producers Group, Sotiris Kadis, emphasized that the EU must impose the same measures in the occupied territories, otherwise the situation will be uncontrollable. The President of the Panagrotikos Syndesmos, Kyriakos Kailas, stressed the need for immediate implementation of necessary measures, including the possible temporary closure of crossing points, to prevent the transfer of the virus from the occupied territories to the free areas. Agricultural organizations recognize that the measures being taken are painful but consider them necessary to protect livestock and the economy. They point out that the government has committed to fully compensate farmers, including loss of income, and that this is a step in the right direction. However, they express concern about the practical implementation of the measures, given the density of livestock units in Cyprus. They point out that dividing the units into smaller sections is unfeasible and that strict monitoring is difficult. Nevertheless, they emphasize that compliance with protocols is the only way to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.