The European Union issued a new decision yesterday in relation to foot-and-mouth disease. The decision, which validates the strict measures that have come into force since the outbreak of the first case, brings with it an unpleasant news for the livestock world, the extension of the restrictions at least until June 15, 2026.
According to the new decision, in order to restore full freedom in the trade in animals without restrictions, a period of three months should elapse from the killing or slaughter of the last vaccinated animal. Regarding trade, while meat exports remain frozen for the entire island, halloumi continues to be exported normally as its heat treatment neutralizes the virus.
This provision raises serious questions about the future of Cypriot livestock farming, given the situation in the occupied territories and the fact that the vaccination program is expected to last for several years.
The Veterinary Services of the Republic, seeking to keep up with the international recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), turned to the European Commission asking for clarification.
The response received by the Cypriot authorities from the Commission is clear and strict that even if Cyprus manages to get rid of the virus itself, the shipment of vaccinated animals to other EU member states is prohibited. This means that animals that have received the vaccine will remain within the walls, which limits the prospects of live marketing for a long time.
While the landscape for live animals has become clearer, there remains a large "grey area" concerning derived products. The current regulation does not specify whether the ban also covers the dispatch of products, such as fresh meat, from animals coming from areas where the measures apply.
This question is considered vital for the survival of the units and slaughterhouses. The Veterinary Services have already raised the relevant question with the European Commission and are anxiously awaiting the answer, which will determine whether Cyprus will be able to export meat or whether the exclusion will be universal.
The European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Oliver Várhely, in the implementing decision published yesterday underlines that "given the current epidemiological situation regarding foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus, and in order to prevent the further spread of the disease in that Member State, other Member States or third countries, it is necessary to urgently review the current areas listed as protection zones, surveillance zones or further restricted zone in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/582, and to adapt them both spatially and temporally, if necessary, and also to demarcate new protection and surveillance zones, taking into account the most recent outbreaks in Cyprus. This is also necessary in order to prevent any unnecessary disruption to trade within the Union and to avoid the imposition of unjustified barriers to trade by third countries'.
The authorities remain vigilant, with controls in the protection and surveillance zones continuous. The extension of the measures until the summer of 2026 is a clear indication that the EU does not intend to risk the spread of the disease to the rest of Europe, leaving Cyprus struggling with the economic and operational consequences of a long-term quarantine.
105 infected units
So far, the epidemiological picture in Nicosia and Larnaca records 105 infected units: 89 sheep and goat units, 13 cattle units and 3 pig farms.
The death toll is heavy, with about 38,900 sheep and goats, 2,247 cattle and 16,500 pigs already killed. Despite the gloomy picture, the Veterinary Services express cautious optimism, estimating that the virus is declining and the vaccination program has begun to pay off.
Amid threats of new mobilizations on the part of livestock farmers, the state declares its presence for financial and psychological support. Payments for milk and feed have already begun, while the finalization of prices for the start of compensation for slaughtered animals is expected. At the same time, a special state aid plan is running under Stavros Malas for the reconstruction of the sector.
The authorities also reassure that, for the time being, there is no question of sufficiency of sheep and goat milk.
Serious concerns about rare breeds
The Veterinary Services are expected to make within the week the critical decision for the management of the breeding units of rare local breeds of animals affected by foot-and-mouth disease, as revealed yesterday by "F".
At the center of the debate is the fate of about 350 adult fat sheep and 33 red cows found in infected units in the Larnaca area. These breeds are a national asset, as they have emerged through long-term developments and crossbreeds on the island, maintaining very small populations.
The representative of the Veterinary Services, Sotiria Georgiadou, made it clear that the decision on any deviations from the protocol of universal slaughter is extremely complex. The authorities are considering all possible scenarios: a) Killing only the positive animals and trying to save the healthy genetic material within the units. b) Total killing with the complete elimination of infected units.
"The primary priority is to limit the spread of the disease," Ms. Georgiadou stressed, noting that the final decision will be based on the legislation, the documentation of purebred and the percentage of these animals in the total population.
In his statements to KYPE, the owner of the unit, Kostas Mouskos, stated that this rare breed of sheep numbers only 1.100 sheep, with 500 of them being on his farm in the B' livestock area of Dromolaxia.
As he said, with the announcement of the results, he addressed both the President of the Republic and the Veterinary Services and the Ministry of Agriculture, requesting the exemption of his unit from the killing, citing both the rarity of the breed and its importance for the Cypriot agricultural heritage.
He noted that this is the largest unit of Cypriot sheep in Dromolaxia and after the detection of a positive case in his unit, he is waiting for the final decision of the Veterinary Services on whether they will proceed with the killing of the entire flock.
According to sheep and goat farmer Costas Mouskos, the unit participates in a European program for the rescue of rare agricultural breeds and is scientifically monitored in collaboration with the CUT, with the aim of genetically improving and strengthening the milk production of the Cypriot sheep.
"It is the only unit with a genetically certified Cypriot dairy sheep and is not identified with any other breed in the world. If there is a killing, the breed is essentially dissolved," he says.
