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Cypriot Livestock Farmers Dispute Claims by Veterinary Services Director Regarding Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Published March 19, 2026, 21:25
Cypriot Livestock Farmers Dispute Claims by Veterinary Services Director Regarding Foot-and-Mouth Disease

A heated dispute has erupted between Cypriot veterinary services and livestock farmers regarding the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The Director of Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, denies allegations of threats made by farmers and reports the illegal movement of cattle from a farm with foot-and-mouth disease to an abandoned pigsty in Geri. The complaint has also been submitted to the Police. Mr. Pipis emphasizes that all cases of foot-and-mouth disease are linked to cattle movements, legal or illegal, placing the blame on the farmers. However, farmers dispute his statements, claiming that the veterinary services are not following the prescribed protocols. Specifically, one farmer reports that officials from the veterinary services visited his farm for sampling, which contradicts the protocol given to them. Other farmers complain of insufficient information and miscommunication, as well as inadequate protection measures for both themselves and the animals. Furthermore, concerns are raised about the way veterinary services handle cases, as the same employees visit both positive and negative units without observing the required waiting time. Finally, it is reported that several farmers have not vaccinated their animals, while fines are threatened for those who do not allow sampling.