European commissioner affirms to president need for FMD protocol

President Nikos Christodoulides met European animal health commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the presidential palace on Friday as authorities pressed for the full implementation of strict containment measures to bring Cyprus’ foot and mouth disease outbreak under control.

Following talks with the president, ministers and agricultural stakeholders, the commissioner said strict adherence to EU protocols remained the only effective route out of the crisis.

“The measures must be implemented everywhere and in full compliance with EU rules,” he said.

“This is the only way to get out of this crisis quickly without significant animal losses and serious financial losses for farmers.”

Varhelyi assured the European Union would continue to support Cyprus throughout the outbreak, stressing that assistance would include veterinary expertise, vaccines and financial compensation for affected producers.

“We want to help Cyprus. We will not leave Cyprus and the farmers alone to face this crisis,” he asserted.

“We will accompany you all the way.”

The commissioner had returned to the island to review progress after an earlier visit two weeks ago, insisting that coordination between local veterinary authorities and EU experts was essential as containment efforts intensified.

Foot and mouth disease, he warned, remains one of the most dangerous livestock diseases globally because of its ability to spread rapidly across species.

“It is extremely resistant and highly contagious,” he said.

“What we are fighting is the strongest and toughest enemy that can exist when it comes to animal health.”

European rules require that all animals on infected farms be culled, even if they show no symptoms, to prevent further transmission.

Meat and milk from affected farms cannot enter the food chain and must likewise be destroyed.

Authorities have also established containment zones around infected units.

A protection zone of three kilometres is enforced around outbreak sites, with a wider surveillance area of ten kilometres where enhanced biosecurity measures apply.

The commissioner appealed to the public to avoid entering affected areas unless absolutely necessary.

“You can very easily carry the virus on your shoes, on your jacket or on your hands without even realising it,” he said.

“Those who do not have work there should stay away.”

The virus can spread through air currents and survive in a wide range of environmental conditions, making rapid intervention essential.

If animals cannot be culled immediately, pre-slaughter vaccination may be used to reduce the concentration of the virus in the air.

“The wind carries this virus everywhere, reducing the viral load is critical.” He stressed.

Strict movement controls are also in place, requiring vehicles entering or leaving restricted zones to undergo full disinfection procedures.

Agricultural representatives said the commissioner had reaffirmed that European legislation would be enforced without exceptions.

Agricultural union leader Michalis Lytras said the message from Brussels was unequivocal following meetings at the Zenon coordination centre in Larnaca.

“The commissioner simply reiterated that the regulation that exists for these issues will be implemented without any relaxation,” he said.

Veterinary authorities say the measures reflect well established European protocols designed to contain outbreaks quickly and prevent wider economic disruption.

Veterinary services spokeswoman Sotiria Georgiadou has previously explained that culling infected herds remains the most effective control strategy because animals without symptoms can still transmit the virus.

“Animals which do not display symptoms can also transmit the virus,” she said earlier. “Once the virus starts circulating, you cannot control it.”

Strategies used outside the European Union, including vaccinating animals while allowing them to remain alive, risk prolonging outbreaks and reducing productivity by up to half, she added.

The outbreak has already led to the culling of more than 13,000 animals across the island as authorities race to prevent further spread.

Officials warn that failure to control the disease could have severe consequences for the agricultural sector and for Cyprus’ position within the European single market.

The government has told farmers that suspending culling measures would endanger the country’s ability to trade livestock products freely within the European Union and could lead to wider restrictions on goods and services.

Varhelyi said the EU would compensate farmers for losses resulting from the destruction of livestock and dairy products, as well as support the replenishing of the island’s herds once the outbreak is contained.

“We will compensate for the slaughter and the destruction of carcasses, meat and milk,” he said.

“And when Cyprus becomes free from the virus, we will also help rebuild the animal population.”

The commissioner also confirmed that coordination was taking place across the entire island, including in the north.

Vaccines have been provided there as well, he said, while veterinary officials remain in contact in an effort to reduce the overall viral load.

Asked about possible additional containment options requested by the government, Varhelyi said authorities had discussed the potential separation of unaffected livestock units from infected areas through strict biosecurity arrangements.

Such measures could allow farms outside affected zones to operate under tightly controlled conditions, including laboratory testing of animals, physical barriers between units and separate staff and feeding systems.

“Our preliminary assessment is that this option could be applied,” he said.

“But it depends entirely on whether all conditions are met in practice.”

For now, officials stress that the immediate priority remains strict compliance with existing measures.

“These rules are based on scientific knowledge and have been tested many times,” Varhelyi said.

“They have always been successful in reducing and ultimately eliminating the virus where they are applied.”