Nicosia, Cyprus. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou on Wednesday defended the government’s handling of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, saying strict biosecurity measures and a national action plan were implemented from the start. She rejected claims of negligence raised in parliament.
Minister responds to criticism
Panayiotou spoke after a meeting with representatives of livestock farmers and cheesemakers. She dismissed allegations aired during an extraordinary meeting of the House agricultural committee on Tuesday, where she was criticised for not attending because she was at the crisis management centre.
Inspections and notification measures
She said that from the moment cases were identified, stakeholders in the free areas were informed. Panayiotou added that 600 animal inspections are conducted annually, and that since December last year 2,000 sheep and goats and 2,000 cows have been examined.
Vaccination and movement controls
Panayiotou stressed the need for rapid vaccination, saying no EU country carries out preventive inoculation and that sufficient vaccine doses have been secured to cover the Republic’s needs. She said vaccination must proceed alongside strict movement controls and biosecurity measures.
Exports and sector cooperation
The minister said exports of halloumi and other dairy products will not be affected. She urged farmers and producers to follow established protocols and emphasised cooperation across the sector, adding that no sector would be left exposed.
Crossing-point spraying decision
Panayiotou said the earlier decision to lift spraying at crossing points from the north followed negative test results. She added that any errors would be identified through ongoing procedures based on scientific data.
What steps do you think are most important for farmers and producers to follow during an animal disease outbreak?
