Larnaka: European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver V¡rhelyi expressed on Thursday the support of the EU towards Cyprus in its fight against the Foot and Mouth disease, noting that the Commission will protect the animals, the farmers, and the people of Cyprus. V¡rhelyi was speaking at the Zenon Coordination Centre in Larnaka with Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou after a broad meeting with all competent authorities for the FMD outbreak.
According to Cyprus News Agency, during the meeting, the Commissioner was informed about the measures taken as well as the strategy that is being implemented to fight FMD. V¡rhelyi emphasized the importance of adhering to biosecurity rules, which he stated are crucial for protecting the animals, farmers, and people of Cyprus. The European Commission has assured Cyprus of its support and has already provided a significant number of vaccines to combat the disease.
The Minister of Agriculture thanked the Commissioner for his visit and highlighted the close cooperation with the European Commission, which has enabled Cyprus to secure vaccines to start vaccinations. The vaccinations within a three-kilometer radius have nearly been completed, and additional vaccines are expected to arrive by Saturday.
The Minister noted that experts from the European Commission have been guiding the local Veterinary Services and private veterinarians on the vaccination strategy. She also expressed appreciation for the Commission's assurances regarding halloumi cheese and support for third-country exports.
The Commissioner reiterated the EU's commitment to assisting Cyprus not only with vaccines but also with financial compensations to support farmers. He highlighted the contagious nature of FMD and stressed the importance of movement restrictions and surveillance measures to contain the disease.
V¡rhelyi confirmed the arrival of the first batches of vaccines and assured that more are on the way, emphasizing the need for cooperation and adherence to biosecurity rules to minimize the crisis period. He also addressed concerns about meat exports, stating that regionalization measures ensure that unaffected regions of Cyprus remain free to export to the EU.
The Commissioner acknowledged the involvement of farmers in the process and reassured that European biosecurity standards are the safest globally. He confirmed that the meat and halloumi cheese in stores are safe to consume, and efforts will continue to maintain this status.
Regarding concerns about illegal food transport from Turkish-occupied areas causing the outbreak, V¡rhelyi stated that the focus is currently on managing the crisis, with movement restrictions in place on both sides of the island. The vaccination strategy for unaffected areas will be decided later, with a review planned in two weeks.