Foot-and-mouth disease has spread to 104 farming units across Nicosia and Larnaca, with approximately 37,000 sheep and goats already culled and 21,000 pigs in the process of being destroyed, according to official figures presented to parliament’s Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.
Agriculture Ministry Director General Andreas Grigoriou announced the figures during the committee’s own-initiative examination of the crisis.
The affected units comprise 13 cattle farms, 88 sheep and goat units and three pig farms. The culled sheep and goats represent 8.1% of the total national population, the 2,200 cattle destroyed represent 2.8%, and the 21,000 pigs being culled account for 7% of domestic production.
A new case at a sheep and goat farm in Palaiometocho drew particular attention. It is the first sheep and goat unit in the area to be affected, coming immediately after the virus was detected at three neighbouring pig farms — confirming the spread of the disease between different animal species within the same geographical area.
Illegal transport allegation
The committee heard an allegation from ELAM MP Linos Papayannis that animals had been illegally transported to Palaiometocho. According to the allegation, a truck that received a permit to transport animals to a slaughterhouse two weeks ago instead delivered them to a livestock unit in Palaiometocho, raising serious questions about biosecurity compliance.
Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis flatly denied that any such permit was issued, confirmed that the case is already in police hands for investigation, and said administrative fines have been imposed.
MPs criticise government handling
Committee chairman and AKEL MP Giannakis Gavriil said “it is clear that something went wrong in the management,” calling for immediate information on new and more effective measures.
DISY MP Charalambos Pazaros assigned responsibility for the transport of hay from the occupied areas and called for a stricter containment plan.
DIKO MP Christos Orfanidis warned that if protocols are not enforced in the occupied areas, the disease will devastate livestock stocks in the government-controlled areas.
Charalambos Theopemptou of the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation focused on the long-term impact the crisis will have on halloumi production.
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