Farmers in Cyprus Protest Against Mass Culling of Livestock

Farmers in Larnaca held a protest against the ongoing culling of animals following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Despite the protests, authorities stated that the culling of animals will not be stopped. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou explained that such measures are mandatory under European Union legislation.

According to EU rules, if even one animal on a farm is infected with foot-and-mouth disease, all animals on that farm must be destroyed.

According to authorities, about 13,500 animals have already been culled in Cyprus since the start of the outbreak.

Some MPs and farmers doubt the effectiveness of such measures and question how livestock populations will be restored. However, veterinary experts note that vaccination cannot fully replace culling, as infected individuals can continue to spread the virus.