For a month now, no new case of foot-and-mouth disease has been detected, however at yesterday's meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, the questions of the MPs were enough and there is strong concern about the course of compensation, as well as the measures to support the affected livestock breeders.
Despite the fact that more than four months have passed since February 20, when the first case was detected in the free areas, the competent authorities of the Republic essentially admit that they are still not able to give a clear answer as to how the virus entered Cyprus. At the same time, the epizootic disease has dealt a heavy blow, already counting 121 infected farms and the killing of 80,133 animals (52,632 sheep and goats, 3,018 cattle and 24,483 pigs).
During the session, the MPs conveyed the intense anxiety of the livestock world. Particular emphasis was placed on whether there can be new relaxations or compensatory measures granted, given that free grazing remains under a strict ban.
For his part, the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Andreas Grigoriou, informing the Committee, pointed out that the improvement of the epidemiological picture allowed the issuance of the new Decree on July 3, which introduces some additional exceptions for controlled movements of animals between farms and for slaughter. However, he clarified that the basic prohibitions on grazing remain in force for biosecurity reasons, stressing that "any facilitations do not constitute a return to normality".
One of the most critical questions from the members of the Commission concerned the timetable for the reconstitution of the decimated livestock. The Ministry of Agriculture informed the body that Stavros Malas has officially requested an extension of the relevant process until the end of July, in order to complete the necessary processes with safety and scientific validity.
MEPs also expressed serious concerns about the speed and scope of reparations. According to the data submitted:
To date, a total of €12,755,619 has been paid to beneficiaries.
There are still 17 pending cases of livestock loss, which are being examined after a legal opinion, with the aim of being paid in the coming days.
In addition, 23 farms with discrepancies are under reassessment, while for 24 cases of feed discrepancies, a response from the Legal Service is awaited.
The judicial involvement with a specific pig farmer, whose funds have been frozen by the Attorney General, is also in full swing.
The transfer of the virus from the occupied territories
At the center of the discussion was again the assessment of the transfer of the virus from the occupied territories and what actions the Republic is taking to avoid the risk of retransmission in case the units in the free areas are free of the virus.
The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, assured MPs that coordinated actions are underway, both at the level of the European Union and through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to exert the necessary pressure and strictly implement the prescribed protection regulations.
At the same time, in the free areas the measures remain strict. 33 administrative fines amounting to €112,540 have already been issued for illegal movements and grazing, while 6 serious cases have been taken by the Police, two of which concern the person in charge of the farm in Kiti for moving animals that had to be killed.
