FMD treatment in Cyprus cannot differ from that in the EU

Cyprus risks getting ejected from the EU Single Market if it fails to enforce the law regarding mass culling of animals in outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the government warned on Tuesday, effectively brushing off livestock farmers calling for alternative arrangements for the island.

“The economic cost would be significant, such as Cyprus’ exclusion from the Single Market, with restrictions on the movement of people and products,” Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said in parliament.

Established in 1993, the EU Single Market is a unified economic area enabling the free movement of goods, services, capital and people across 27 EU nations.

Under EU law, even where a single animal within a farming unit tests positive for FMD, all the animals within that unit must be slaughtered.

Farmers are pressing the government to seek an exemption from the European Commission – namely that only symptomatic animals be culled. They had met President Nikos Christodoulides over the weekend to put forward their demands.

On Tuesday, officials said they’ve requested an exemption from Brussels; however, if the answer is no, Cyprus must abide by EU law or risk severe repercussions.

MPs heard that, to date, around 13,500 animals have been put to death. A total of 238,000 vaccine doses have been administered out of the 600,000 doses secured.

To mollify the farmers, officials also said that while they wait for the European Commission’s response, only animals with severe symptoms are being culled.

“Unfortunately, we always play catch-up,” said Akel MP Yiannakis Gavriel.

“What if FMD is detected in Paphos, will we slaughter 500,000 animals? And how will we replace them?” he asked.

“And by culling, will the disease be eradicated from Cyprus, or will it continue to exist in the north and then make its way into the south again?”

The minister stressed that the overriding priority is to contain the spread of the virus and “protect our animal capital”.

She noted that the cabinet has already passed a decision regarding monetary compensation for farmers. And if necessary, moves would be made to import animals, should the stock of animals deplete to a significant degree.

But farmers were less than impressed.

EKA agricultural organisation’s Panicos Hambas insisted that Cyprus get different treatment from the rest of the EU.

He cited consultants who advised EKA that FMD can never be completely eradicated “because Turkey is here and it chose vaccinations, while the Turkish Cypriots choose to import animal feed from Turkey.”

He added: “So, regarding the decision on culling, this should take into consideration the circumstances here in Cyprus and not elsewhere, like Holland.”

Giorgos Demetriou, an Oroklini farmer whose entire herd was slaughtered as part of the containment measures, warned: “In our effort to wipe out the virus, we’ll end up losing all our animals.”