Kyprianou says pork exports to be allowed from Cyprus

European Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou has announced that on Monday the Commission’s relevant committee will allow the export of pork from Cyprus, the slaughtering of animals from within the 10 kilometre surveillance zone and the marketing of milk outside the 3 km protection zone.
Briefing the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture regarding issues of his competency, Kyprianou said the Commission would decide the timeframe of five years for eradicating scrapie from Cyprus, since three days ago the period during which the European Parliament could raise objections has expired.
Kyprianou said that until Cyprus is pronounced free from foot and mouth disease (FMD), the export of livestock would not be allowed.
Referring to FMD, Kyprianou said in the second confirmed case there were clinical symptoms, adding that Europe has a very strict regime in relation to any area in the world concerning animal health and that Cyprus, as an EU member state, is obliged to take unpleasant decisions.
He furthermore noted the satisfaction of the Commission regarding the response of the Cypriot authorities concerning the measures that had to be taken.
Kyprianou pointed out that at the moment measures are being relaxed in Cyprus and as a first step the export of processed foodstuffs was allowed and on Monday the export of fresh pork will be permitted.
The Commissioner also said that in the Turkish occupied areas, the transportation of animal products is prohibited under the EU Green Line Regulation.
Referring to scrapie, Kyprianou said Cyprus was an exceptional case, since there was a deviation regarding the consumption of animals up to six months old, which expired three years after Cyprus‘ accession to the EU.
He explained that after France‘s appeal, Cyprus would have had to put down 5,500 animals and that the consumption of animals up to six months old would be examined with the permission of the Commission’s services.
The Commissioner noted that for two years no samples were being sent for analysis concerning scrapie, adding that now the situation has been righted and Cyprus will carry out local examinations.