Complications arose during today’s animal culling operations, as farmers allegedly obstructed the work of the Veterinary Services, according to a reliable source who spoke to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
Sources said the situation that developed has made it necessary to redesign the field teams carrying out the operations.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture is in constant communication with the European Commission and has submitted a request to halt the mass killings of animals and examine possible adjustments to the management of the situation.
So far, however, the European Commission has not changed its position due to the seriousness and high transmissibility of the disease, while efforts to manage the outbreak continue.
Farmers to Request Halt of Culling from President
Agricultural organizations announced they will ask President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday to end the killing of healthy animals that do not have foot-and-mouth disease and instead implement nationwide vaccination of livestock.
The announcement followed a meeting held in Aradippou with livestock farmers, who warned of possible protests.
The Secretary General of Panagrotikos, Tasos Giapanis, said the meeting was held at the initiative of agricultural organizations and all affected stakeholders, including pig, cattle and sheep farmers, as well as producer groups impacted by the outbreak.
“We have accepted the President’s invitation to attend a meeting tomorrow at the Presidential Palace to discuss the issue of foot-and-mouth disease,” he said.
He added that their main demand is for the killing of healthy animals to stop immediately.
“We are asking for universal vaccination of all animals across Cyprus and for culling to apply only to animals showing clinical symptoms,” he said.
Giapanis also warned that if their demands are not met, farmers will stage a protest on Sunday and launch daily demonstrations starting Monday until their demands are met.
“We hope that tomorrow we will see white smoke from the Presidential Palace,” he added.
Allegations of Brutal Killing Methods
Panikos Hambas, Secretary General of the EKA, said it is now clear that foot-and-mouth disease has arrived in Cyprus and will remain.
He noted that Turkey, where the virus spread to the occupied areas, combats the disease mainly through vaccination.
“Since Cyprus is partially occupied and animals and animal feed continue to enter from Turkey, we will continue to face foot-and-mouth disease,” he said.
Hambas called on the government to seek an exemption from the European Union in order to allow vaccination across the island.
At the same time, he made a strong appeal to those carrying out the culling operations to stop killing animals using chisels.
“This allegation is unacceptable. We understand the pressure everyone is under, but there must be respect for the animals,” he said.
Explaining the complaint, Hambas said two farmers reported during the meeting that an animal which had not received a sufficient dose of medication to die was allegedly killed using a chisel.
“If this is true, it is unacceptable,” he added.
Source: SigmaLive
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