EU Commissioner Varhelyi addresses foot-and-mouth disease crisis in Cyprus

On Friday, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Oliver Varhelyi met with the President of Cyprus and local officials in Nicosia to discuss the ongoing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Varhelyi emphasized that strict adherence to EU regulations is the only way to mitigate the crisis and minimize animal losses and economic damage. He confirmed that EU rules mandate the immediate culling of all animals on affected farms, explicitly rejecting requests from farmers for any exceptions to these protocols. Furthermore, the commissioner declared that meat from these animals cannot be used for consumption. He urged the public to stay away from affected areas to prevent further transmission. The European Commission has pledged full solidarity with Cyprus during this agricultural crisis.