Minister to discuss FMD with EU Health Commissioner

Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Photis Photiou is  in Brussels on Monday to discuss with EU Commissioner responsible for Health Marcos Kyprianou the possibility of lifting some of the measures taken, following an out break of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Photiou said Friday that his ministry is in constant touch with Kyprianou on this issue and announced that as of yesterday the movement and slaughtering of livestock and cattle in a 10-kilometre surveillance zone, around the affected area of Dromolaxia, on the southeast, is allowed.

As regards the situation in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas, Photiou said that the EU has been informed about it and has been asked to monitor through its own mechanisms and in cooperation with the UN the situation there as regards animal diseases.

Photiou warned about the grave danger of contamination because there is no control over the northern Turkish occupied part of the country, as the legal government of the Republic is prevented from exercising its jurisdiction in that part of the country.

Over the past few weeks, hundreds of sheep and goats have been slaughtered in local farms to contain the disease, following consultations with EU experts.