Cyprus cabinet addresses foot-and-mouth disease and rising commodity prices
On March 16, 2026, the Cypriot cabinet scheduled a meeting to address the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and rising commodity prices linked to Middle East hostilities. The European Commission has placed the entire Republic of Cyprus under an additional restricted zone for animal movement and exports until at least May 1, 2026, due to concerns over slow culling protocols. Only about 50% of livestock in infected units have been destroyed, despite EU mandates requiring immediate culling to prevent further spread. EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Varhelyi issued decisions on February 25 and March 11 following data reviews of 33 confirmed cases. President Nikos Christodoulides announced that the government will implement a support plan for livestock farmers and expressed a zero-tolerance policy against profiteering. Farmers have expressed significant discontent regarding the management of the crisis, citing poor communication and surprise culling operations. Meanwhile, the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture is set to convene an emergency meeting regarding the crisis. The government maintains that it is adhering to strict EU protocols to minimize economic fallout.