Livestock Farmers Protest in Livadia Over Mandatory Culling Due to FMD

Around 30 livestock farmers gathered in Livadia on Tuesday to protest the Veterinary Services' decision on the mandatory culling of animals at farms where Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) cases were detected.

Farmers claim their animals show no clinical symptoms and that the presence of antibodies indicates immunity rather than an active infection. Farm owner Nikoula Georgiou criticized the lack of preventative measures since late 2025 and noted that culling orders were given orally without the right to appeal. Protesters demand a halt to the slaughter, re-testing, and quarantine instead of destruction. The Veterinary Services responded that culling the entire herd upon a positive FMD case is a mandatory Category A requirement under EU law to prevent a wider outbreak.