Famagusta: The Veterinary Services of the Republic of Cyprus are on red alert due to the detection of a case of foot-and-mouth disease in the Turkish occupied territories of the Republic, Director of the Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, said Tuesday replying to journalists' questions during a visit to supermarkets in Famagusta ahead of the Christmas holidays. Pipis was accompanying Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Maria Panayiotou, who was also asked on the matter and said "we are on alert."
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Minister of Agriculture addressed concerns about the impact of the disease on Cypriot exports, stating that "the Australian authorities have informed us that they have effectively banned imports of products from Cyprus as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the occupied territories." She emphasized that since being informed by Australia, the Veterinary Services have intensified controls and taken 16 specific actions to manage the situation.
Panayiotou highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and intensive controls, noting that the Veterinary Services are in constant communication with necessary agencies. She mentioned a three-hour meeting held under her instructions to discuss further security measures for livestock units, stressing the crucial nature of the situation.
Director Pipis added that they are also in communication with the European Commission and Australian authorities, who may reconsider their decision based on the information provided by Cyprus. He expressed hope that shipments en route to Australia might still be accepted, avoiding rejection or return.
Additionally, Pipis welcomed the visit of a European Commission delegation, which reviewed the case in the occupied areas. He reiterated the critical status of the situation, asserting the Veterinary Services' readiness to take necessary actions to prevent the spread of the virus to government-controlled areas.
Addressing allegations from the occupied territories that the Republic of Cyprus transmitted the disease through illegal trade, Pipis dismissed these claims as unfounded. He noted that the nature of the disease's epidemiology makes it impossible to conceal, emphasizing expert opinions from the European Union that such allegations are baseless.