Farmers' organizations demand immediate financial compensation for foot-and-mouth disease losses

On April 6, 2026, major Cypriot agricultural organizations, including PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, Nea Agrotiki Kinisi, and Euroagrotikos, submitted a formal letter to President Nikos Christodoulides. The request follows a severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that resulted in the culling of over 30,000 animals. Citing Article 2 of EU Regulation 349/2005, the organizations demand full financial compensation based on the market value of the culled livestock, to be paid within 90 days of the culling. They explicitly oppose the government's proposal to replace the livestock through state-managed imports, arguing that EU law only provides for direct monetary compensation. Additionally, the organizations insist that the state should use national funds to cover the transportation costs of replacement animals. Christos Papapetrou, president of PEK, emphasized that farmers are in a dire psychological state and face uncertainty regarding the future of their operations. The agricultural groups are currently participating in two specialized committees focused on scientific solutions and compensation mechanisms to address the crisis.