Larnaca, Cyprus. European animal health commissioner Oliver Varhelyi told farmers and agricultural organisations that European Union rules on foot-and-mouth disease requiring mass culling in infected units will be implemented without relaxation.
Commissioner meets farmers and officials
Varhelyi spoke after a meeting at the Zenon coordination centre in Larnaca. Agricultural union president Michalis Lytras said the commissioner reiterated that the existing regulation would be implemented without any relaxation.
The meetings included Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, Varhelyi and representatives of affected livestock units, followed by a broader session with agricultural organisations, producer representatives and officials of state services.
EU rules require culling in infected units
The EU rules require that all animals in an infected unit be culled, including asymptomatic animals, to prevent the rapid spread of the virus.
Veterinary services spokeswoman Sotiria Georgiadou previously said European legislation provides for mandatory culling of all animals on infected farms, restrictions on movement, and procedures for the burial or cremation of animals.
She said strategies used outside the EU, such as preserving infected animals by vaccination, risk further spread and a 25 to 50 per cent reduction in productivity. Georgiadou added that animals without symptoms can still transmit the virus, making it necessary to kill them in infected units.
Farmers’ protests and market access concerns
Farmers protested the culling and hoped for an exemption from EU law, but the government said halting the process would endanger Cyprus’ access to the European single market and lead to restrictions on goods, people and services.
More than 13,000 animals have been culled since the outbreak began.
Do you support the continued implementation of EU mass culling rules for foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus?
