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Foot-and-Mouth Disease: EU Rejects Cyprus' Request for Exemption

Published March 13, 2026, 09:15
Foot-and-Mouth Disease: EU Rejects Cyprus' Request for Exemption

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Olivér Várhelyi, is in Cyprus to discuss the foot-and-mouth disease crisis. Information suggests that the European Commission's response to Cyprus' request for an exemption from the regulation requiring the culling of all animals in infected units is likely to be negative. The Commissioner met with agricultural organizations and producer representatives, confirming that the EU will strictly enforce the regulation. Agricultural organizations expressed their disappointment, as the meeting yielded no positive developments. The Commissioner will also meet with politicians and the President of the Republic. The EU appears to be sticking to the strict application of the regulation, even after pressure from Cyprus, as no similar exemption has been granted in the past.