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Livestock farmers protest against culling measures in Cyprus

On Thursday, April 23, livestock farmers in Cyprus initiated protests at the Rizoelia roundabout and Larnaca port to oppose the mass culling of animals linked to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. As of Wednesday, authorities confirmed 104 infected livestock units, including 37,000 sheep and goats, 2,200 cattle, and 21,000 pigs either culled or scheduled for culling. Protesters, who held a funeral-themed demonstration, are demanding a five-day suspension of culling to allow for dialogue and believe alternative EU-compliant solutions exist. A three-member delegation met with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, but negotiations failed to yield a resolution, leading farmers to escalate their blockade. During the protest, Justice Minister Costas Fytiris visited the site to monitor safety, resulting in a tense encounter with demonstrators. The government maintains that compensation payments for lost income, feed, and milk are being processed, with 21 of 31 eligible farmers having already received advance payments. Authorities are also investigating reports of illegal animal transport related to the crisis.

Original Sources

Protest by livestock farmers in progress
Sigmalive English · 23 April 2026, 13:42
FMD spreads to over 100 farms, third pig unit hit
Cyprus Mail · 21 April 2026, 18:32
Foot-and-mouth outbreak: Third pig farm infected
Sigmalive English · 21 April 2026, 16:41