Cyprus agriculture minister reviews market readiness and safety measures ahead of Easter

Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou conducted inspections of grocery stores and fruit markets in Nicosia to assess the availability of products ahead of the Easter holidays. The Minister confirmed that local lamb supply levels are consistent with last year, despite ongoing challenges in the livestock sector due to foot-and-mouth disease. Authorities are conducting intensive checks on wholesale and retail meat outlets to ensure food safety and regulatory compliance. Reports indicate that seizures of products remain at low, yearly average levels, though officials are monitoring for illegal animal movements. The government has implemented a support package exceeding 200 million euros, which includes VAT reductions on essential food items. Minister Panayiotou emphasized that domestic farms are being prioritized for livestock procurement to mitigate import difficulties. While some sources noted reports of vegetable price increases, officials generally described the market as stable with no expected shortages.