Nicosia, Cyprus. Consultations between veterinary services, livestock farmers and agricultural organisations failed to produce a major breakthrough on Monday, as farming representatives reiterated their demand for a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides over the handling of the foot and mouth crisis.
Third meeting
The third consecutive meeting on the outbreak was held at the Veterinary Services headquarters under the supervision of director Christodoulos Pipis.
Discussions focused on containment measures, livestock culls and restrictions imposed under European protocols following the spread of the disease across affected districts.
Agricultural organisations and the group known as “the voice of livestock breeders” said no significant progress emerged from the meeting, describing the talks as largely repetitive.
Speaking to Politis, farmers’ union leader Michalis Lytras said veterinary officials again explained “what is prohibited and what is permitted” under European regulations concerning infected units and movement controls.
Concerns over restrictions
Farmers and agricultural representatives raised concerns over the continued culling of animals and restrictions affecting rural operations, including controls on the transport of hay and animal feed supplies.
Panagrotikos president Kyriakos Kailas said the organisations now intend to request direct talks with the president because the crisis has “a political aspect” extending beyond technicalities.
The organisations are seeking intervention regarding EU oversight of animal health measures in the north, where concerns have been raised over monitoring and disease prevention controls.
Lytras argued that the EU should verify how annual funding allocated to the Turkish Cypriot community for disease prevention is being used.
“They receive European money and there should be checks,” he said, adding that such matters could not be resolved solely through veterinary authorities.