Philenews

Unified Approach to Veterinary Crisis Needed

Published March 21, 2026, 08:15
Unified Approach to Veterinary Crisis Needed

The Bi-communal Health Committee has held at least four meetings since December to assess the situation with foot-and-mouth disease, immediately after being informed of the virus's appearance in the occupied territories. The Republic of Cyprus secured and delivered 500,000 doses of vaccines to the occupied territories through the EU, with 60,000 doses later returned. Nicosia is seeking the implementation of uniform policies in the occupied territories, in line with the EU framework, for the effective management of the virus. The EU is calling on Turkey to cooperate for a unified approach to foot-and-mouth disease, as the virus appears to have spread from Turkey to the occupied territories and then to the free areas. President Christodoulides raised the issue with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who has undertaken to contact Ankara.