Cyprus Times

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Need for Coordination with Turkish Cypriots

Published March 17, 2026, 17:08
Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Need for Coordination with Turkish Cypriots

The need for coordinated action with the Turkish Cypriot community in tackling the foot-and-mouth disease was highlighted during a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou, emphasized the importance of involving the bicommunal technical committee to coordinate efforts. The Committee Chairman, Yannakis Gavriel, expressed the view that communication with the Turkish Cypriot community should have started earlier, perhaps as early as December 2025, when the first cases were identified in the Lapathos area. Minister Panagiotou mentioned that there are reservations regarding the commitment of livestock farmers from the Turkish Cypriot community to implement the necessary measures. The Veterinary Services have conveyed to the technical committee the need for a mutual approach to the problem, proposing the adoption of the EU framework for crisis management. The Director of Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, stated that the goal is to create a joint committee for the management of veterinary issues, based on the EU acquis. The Minister mentioned that this request has been submitted to the technical committee and they are awaiting developments. The Committee session highlighted concerns about potential re-infection if the virus is not addressed in the areas not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. Livestock farmers in Geri have already formed a Committee to claim their rights.