Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ main agricultural organisations have urged President Nikos Christodoulides to raise the issue of relaxing EU protocols on animal culling at the upcoming European Council meeting. They said the disease has spread from Larnaca to southern and western Nicosia.
Call to put the issue on summit agenda
In a joint letter, PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos and Nea Agrotiki Kinisi said the matter should be placed on the agenda of the EU heads of state summit scheduled to take place in Cyprus on April 23–24, 2026.
Concerns over spread and impact on livestock sector
The organisations said that, despite efforts to contain the outbreak, “no one knows how far it will extend.” They warned that continuing to fully implement the existing EU protocol could “ultimately lead to the destruction of the entire livestock sector,” with consequences for halloumi, milk, meat and the wider Cypriot economy.
Criticism of mass culling approach
The groups said “the mass culling of all animals in infected units does not appear to have resolved the problem.” They said the priority should be to stabilise the epidemiological situation and avoid mass culling, aiming instead for the identification and removal of infected animals without killing animals that test negative for the disease but positive for antibodies from previous infection.
References to Turkey and the occupied areas
The organisations said Turkey and the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus do not apply EU protocols for tackling the disease. They said they raised the issue with EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, arguing that because the EU funds the occupied areas, it should also monitor and enforce its regulations, but said they have not seen results to date.
Position on long-term presence of the disease
The organisations said foot-and-mouth disease “has arrived and will remain in Cyprus,” attributing this to Turkey and ongoing illegal transactions with the occupied areas. They said conditions require consideration of alternative proposals and an end to mass culling of animals.
What changes, if any, do you think Cyprus should seek to EU protocols on animal culling?