Filenews 29 December 2025
A decision to take additional measures, including the twenty-four-hour coverage of the crossing points from the occupied to the free areas, in order to ensure the disinfection of wheeled vehicles, was taken on Monday during a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, on the issue of foot-and-mouth disease, under the competent Minister, Maria Panagiotou, with the participation of officials and stakeholders.
In his statements after the end of the meeting, the Director of the Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, said that following the measures, which have been taken to date by the Veterinary Services, regarding the foot-and-mouth disease, which has broken out in the occupied areas, there was an additional meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture during which it has been decided that in addition to the measures, which have been undertaken to date by the Veterinary Services, to provide round-the-clock coverage of the crossing points from the occupied to the free areas, in order to ensure the disinfection of wheeled vehicles.
He added that it was also decided to intensify controls by the staff of the Veterinary Services, which, as he said, have already been intensified since the day the incident was announced, "in order to ensure that there will be no incidents along the livestock farms that exist along the entire length of the ceasefire line".
He added that it was decided to have additional communication with the authorities of the British Bases, the Police, the army and in addition with the groups of livestock breeders, in order to strengthen the surveillance measures of the Green Line area to prevent any illegal activity to and from the occupied areas.
He also said that in addition, livestock farmers will be notified of a guide with guidelines regarding the creation of disinfection areas for wheeled vehicles on their farms, as well as in livestock zones, while in addition, there will be a new communication with the Australian authorities regarding the issue in order to accept the shipments of halloumi that are on their way to Australia.
He further stated that in addition to the above, it has already been decided to set up a committee, which will consist of representatives of the Veterinary Services and a representative from each group of animal care professionals, i.e. cow farmers, sheep and goat breeders, pig breeders and in addition cheese farmers, in order to have a continuous monitoring of the issue and the coordinated taking of any necessary measures.
He also clarified that there has been no other country that has demonstrated its intention to implement any restrictions or trade measures against Cyprus in relation to this incident, adding that there is constant communication with the European Commission's Directorate General for Health, as well as with the International Organization for Animal Health, while there will also be communication with the FAO on this issue.
Asked about the way in which the Veterinary Services receive updates on the situation in the occupied areas, Mr. Pipis said that any information comes from the printed press or through the internet and the various communication systems of citizens that exist on the internet.
Asked if the visit of the four experts of the European Union revealed any remarkable data, Mr. Pipis said that the visit of the experts of the European Union demonstrated the correctness of the management of the whole case by the Veterinary Services and in particular that we must currently focus on the farms that exist in the areas under the control of the Republic along the ceasefire line, "Which is exactly what we have focused on and with which we are in contact to implement even further stricter measures in terms of controlling the passage of any staff to these farms."
Asked if the disease may affect animals other than cattle, Mr. Pipis said that the disease in question affects exclusively animals whose hoof is divided in half, such as cows, goats, sheep and pigs.
"It does not affect any other animal species and moreover it does not affect, most importantly, humans, for whom it has no importance in terms of public health," he stressed.
CNA
