Lamb prices in Cyprus have risen by around 10% since foot-and-mouth disease struck the island’s livestock sector — and with Easter weeks away, when more than 50,000 lambs and goats were consumed last year alone.
Kostas Leivadiotis, president of the Pan-Cyprus Butchers’ Association, told Phileleftheros that lamb is currently trading at around €12 per kilo, up roughly €1 compared to prices before the virus was detected and restrictions imposed. Some tightness has emerged in the meat market, he said, though it remains limited for now. Pork and beef prices are stable.
Movement restrictions introduced to contain the outbreak are compounding the problem. Slaughtering animals has become harder under the current rules, Leivadiotis said, and the issue has been raised with the relevant authorities to find a solution allowing easier movement and slaughter of animals destined for consumption.
Cyprus also imports some meat from Lesvos, but following FMD cases there, exports from the island are no longer permitted. Alternative markets will be sought, Leivadiotis said. He called on everyone to follow expert advice to limit the spread of the disease, adding that vaccinations and cullings needed to proceed rapidly.
Around 700,000 animals are sent to slaughter in Cyprus each year — approximately 20,000 cattle, 450,000 pigs, and 200,000 lambs and goats, with some additional demand met by imports.
Halloumi production and exports currently unaffected
Michalis Koullouros, a representative of the Cheesemakers’ Association, said halloumi exports and prices are currently unaffected. Dairies are continuing to receive milk and hold stored quantities sufficient to cover export needs. Halloumi is worth €400 million a year to Cyprus, with €350 million coming from export sales, and 80% of all milk produced on the island goes into halloumi.
“The concern stems from the culling of animals. If a huge number of animals are culled, there could be a problem,” Koullouros said. As the price of cow’s milk differs from that of sheep and goat milk, the scale and species of any culling will shape any price impact, he added.
“The important thing is to contain the virus. If the spread is kept in check, both production and exports are manageable,” he said. If a serious problem does emerge, smaller dairies would be the first to feel it, he added.
On whether the timeline for implementing the PDO halloumi quota might be reviewed, Koullouros said no such discussion had been raised. With the transitional period in force until July 2029, a request to modify PDO specifications remains possible until then — but that, he said, is not the immediate concern. The priority now is containing the virus and supporting livestock farmers to restore production to previous levels.