Dialogos

Veterinary Association: EU Strategy on Foot-and-Mouth Disease Needs to Change

Published March 13, 2026, 14:01
Veterinary Association: EU Strategy on Foot-and-Mouth Disease Needs to Change

The Veterinary Association of Cyprus expresses concern over the European Union's strict strategy regarding foot-and-mouth disease, which involves mass culling of animals. The President of the Association emphasizes that this approach is devastating for the animal population and calls for it to be relaxed. Discussions within the Pan-European Veterinary Federation indicate the need for a change in strategy, taking into account climate change and the increasing frequency of infectious disease outbreaks. As an example, the culling of 15 million animals in Germany due to foot-and-mouth disease is cited. The Association points out that the discussion about changing strategy should take place outside of a crisis period and emphasizes the need to protect the remaining animal population, as well as the particularity of Cyprus due to the presence of the virus in the occupied territories and the common villages. The situation appears to be limited to the province of Larnaca, while sampling in other provinces is negative. Vaccination is considered an important tool for managing the situation.