fmd culls — fmd culls — Farmers affected by the culling of their livestock due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have called for a meeting with the president to voice their concerns. The mass culling, mandated by EU legislation, has sparked outrage among local livestock farmers and cheesemakers, who argue that unique circumstances in Cyprus warrant a different approach.
During a meeting on Thursday, representatives from various farming groups decided that a face-to-face discussion with President Nikos Christodoulides was necessary to address their grievances. Nikos Papakyriakou, head of the Cattle Breeders Association, announced plans to send a letter requesting an urgent meeting to the president.
Fmd culls: Concerns Over EU Regulations
The farmers are particularly opposed to the blanket culling of herds, which they believe does not adequately consider the specific conditions in Cyprus. “To implement European regulations to the letter, this doesn’t take into account the particular circumstances in Cyprus,” Papakyriakou explained to the media, highlighting the unique layout of farming units and the political situation involving occupied territories.
He noted that the European Commission had not mandated the same extensive measures in the northern part of the island after inspections for FMD, which raises questions about fairness. Instead, the north received €12 million in funding aimed at eliminating animal diseases, while farmers in the south face the loss of their entire herds.
A Call for Moderation
The farmers are advocating for a more measured approach to handling FMD cases. They suggest that rather than requiring full herds to be culled when a positive case is detected, animals should be vaccinated and the farms closely monitored. Only in cases where the virus persists should culling be considered necessary.
“We call on the president to get in touch with the competent EU authorities to devise an arrangement where animals would be culled yes, but in moderation,” Papakyriakou stated, emphasising the need for a balanced response to the outbreak.
Ongoing Outbreak and Its Impact
Since the confirmation of the first FMD cases in the government-controlled areas on February 20 this year, approximately 4,000 animals have already been culled. The outbreak began with three initial cases: a cattle farm in Livadia and two sheep/goat units in Oroklini. The situation has since escalated, affecting a total of 11 farms.
As the farmers await a response from the president, they remain hopeful for a resolution that acknowledges the unique challenges they face. When asked about possible further actions if their demands are not addressed, Papakyriakou refrained from making any predictions, expressing a desire to first explore the possibility of dialogue with the president.
