Nicosia, Cyprus. Livestock breeders demanded on Saturday to meet President Nikos Christodoulides amid an ongoing foot and mouth disease outbreak, calling the government’s handling of the situation “unacceptable”. They said further action would follow if the president does not agree to meet them by Monday afternoon.
Criticism of government response
Christodoulos Christodoulou, representing the breeders, made the remarks after a meeting with Stavros Malas, who has been appointed by the government to head the scientific committee formed following the outbreak.
“The government is unacceptable. They plan for tomorrow, they do not care about today,” Christodoulou said. He added that the veterinary services department, the president, and the government were responsible for addressing the situation, and said, “They have no solution. They have no programme. The president has a deadline of Monday afternoon.”
Deadline for meeting and possible mobilisations
Christodoulou said that if Christodoulides does not agree to meet representatives of a newly established organisation called “the voice of livestock breeders” by Monday afternoon, “new mobilisations” will be undertaken.
The organisation was formed last Tuesday and said it aims to highlight “the serious issues which have arisen in the sector”.
Calls for alternatives to culling
The group has called for alternatives to the culling of livestock during the outbreak. However, European Union law stipulates that if an animal is found to have foot and mouth disease, every animal on the farm must be culled.
Extent of outbreak
So far, the disease has been detected at 110 farms across the island.
What steps do you think should be taken to address the outbreak while supporting livestock breeders?
