Nicosia: A decision to take additional measures, including the 24-hour monitoring of crossing points from the occupied to the free areas, in order to ensure the disinfection of vehicles, was taken on Monday during a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment on the recent foot-and-mouth disease incidents. The meeting was chaired by the competent Minister, Maria Panayiotou, with the participation of officials and relevant bodies.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Director of the Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, stated that following the measures taken to date regarding the foot-and-mouth disease, which has broken out in the occupied areas, an additional meeting was held Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture. It was decided that, in addition to the measures taken to date by the Veterinary Services, there will be 24-hour monitoring at the crossing points from the occupied to the free areas in order to ensure the disinfection of vehicles.
He added that it was also decided to intensify checks by Veterinary Services staff, which had already been intensified since the day the incident was announced, "in order to ensure that there will be no incidents in the livestock farms that exist throughout the ceasefire line."
Further actions include establishing additional communication with the British bases' authorities, the police, the army, and farmers' groups to strengthen surveillance measures along the Green Line to prevent any illegal activity from and to the occupied areas.
A guide with guidelines on the operation of disinfection areas for vehicles on their farms, as well as in livestock zones, will be made available to livestock farmers. There will also be further communication with the Australian authorities to ensure that the haloumi shipments currently en route to Australia are accepted.
Pipis mentioned that a committee comprising representatives of the Veterinary Services and one representative from each group of animal care professionals, namely cattle farmers, sheep and goat farmers, pig farmers, and cheese makers, will be set up to continuously monitor the issue and coordinate any necessary measures.
He clarified that no other country has shown any intention of imposing restrictions or trade measures against Cyprus concerning this incident. There is ongoing communication with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and the World Organisation for Animal Health, and there will also be communication with the FAO on the issue.
Pipis explained that the Veterinary Services receive updates on the situation in the occupied areas from print media, the internet, and various online communication systems available to citizens.
Regarding the visit by the four European Union experts, Pipis noted that it demonstrated the correctness of the Veterinary Services' handling of the incident. The focus remains on the farms in the areas controlled by the Republic along the ceasefire line, where efforts are concentrated on implementing stricter measures regarding personnel control.
Pipis confirmed that the disease only affects animals with cloven hooves, such as cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. It does not affect other animal species or humans, for whom it poses no public health significance.