Livestock farmers are determined to proceed with dynamic mobilizations if the killing of animals is not stopped, even if satisfactory compensation for foot-and-mouth disease is given. Decisions on the next steps will be made tonight at a meeting – and announcements will be made tomorrow.
Speaking to the Morning Route, the representative of the "Voice of Livestock Breeders" association, Stella Petrou, referred again to alternative European protocols that leave, as she said, loopholes for other solutions.
At the same time, he stated that specific data and figures have not yet been given on the amount of compensation, regarding the cost of breeding, feed and loss of income.
He added that the livestock farmers do not intend to proceed with the blockade of airports, adding that the focus of their mobilizations will be the Presidential Palace and main roads of the cities.
No room for differentiation of measures, says the Veterinary Association
For his part, the president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, Dimitris Epaminondas, rejects the talk of alternative European protocols in the treatment of foot-and-mouth disease.
Speaking to the Morning Route, he said that the European legislation regarding the treatment of the disease is uniform.
He explained that the European Union has decided to have a single strategy on this issue, in order to avoid the possibility of contamination during the movement of products from one country to another.
Mr. Epaminondas noted that Europe has chosen the extreme strategy of eradicating the problem, which, as he stressed, leaves no room for differentiation of the measures taken in any of the member states.
Asked about antibodies in animals, he explained that during laboratory tests, there is the possibility of separating vaccine antibodies from antibodies that have developed due to natural infection.
Asked if the dilemma is: "killing animals or ending the export of halloumi to the states of the European Union", the president of the Veterinary Association replied that there is a possibility of a trade embargo. He noted that if EU legislation is not implemented, then there is a risk that the export of halloumi will be banned in the Republic of Cyprus.
