animal culling — Animal culling aimed at containing the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is proceeding as planned, according to Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, she confirmed that the culling programme is on track, particularly highlighting the situation at a livestock farm in Pachna, where infected animals are scheduled for culling.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Responding to inquiries about potential resistance to the culling, Minister Panayiotou noted that veterinary services in Limassol reported no disruptions, thanks to police support. “I have not been informed of any reaction so far, based on the information I have received,” she stated.
In a decisive move to reinforce animal health legislation, the cabinet has approved significantly harsher penalties for violations. Under the new regulations, the maximum prison sentence for non-compliance will increase from six months to five years, while fines will jump from €3,323 to €250,000. Similarly, penalties for the movement of animals or products from uncontrolled areas will now allow for up to 10 years in prison and the same €250,000 fine.
Administrative penalties, which are enforced by the director of veterinary services for breaches of national and EU legislation, will also see a dramatic increase, rising from €5,000 to €100,000. So far, 27 administrative fines have been issued under the previous regulations, totalling €91,540.
In addition to the increased penalties, police are currently investigating six serious violations related to the outbreak. Minister Panayiotou emphasised the government’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders in the halloumi sector through the Halloumi Monitoring Committee, aiming to protect the product’s PDO status and support Cyprus’ leading agricultural export.
As part of the ongoing culling operation, veterinary authorities confirmed that all animals at the infected farm in Pachna are set to be culled on Friday. Dr Demetris Epaminondas, the president of the Veterinary Association, indicated that preparations for the culling have been in place, with burial sites already opened on Thursday. He expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the farm owner, which was crucial for facilitating the culling and subsequent testing.
Dr Epaminondas reported that no other positive cases have been identified in the vicinity, with neighbouring farms testing negative. “With Famagusta and Paphos still free of cases, if this outbreak remains isolated to Limassol, we hope to control the situation effectively,” he remarked.
To ensure the smooth execution of the culling operation, police have maintained a presence in the Pachna area since Thursday morning. Recent measures also include increased involvement of the police and the army to enforce bio-security regulations. A meeting held earlier this week involved ministers and permanent secretaries from the ministries of agriculture, defence, and justice, as well as leaders from the police and National Guard, to discuss these enforcement strategies.
