November 7, 2007

EU bans meat and dairy from Cyprus

The European Commission has banned meat and dairy products as well as the movement of animals in the Republic of Cyprus, following the confirmation of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease at two farms.

Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Fotis Fotiou said EU has also banned the slaughter of animals.

A Dutch EU expert has confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease at two farms in Cyprus, Fotiou said.

Speaking after a meeting at Larnaca's Veterinary Services in the presence of the Dutch expert, Fotiou said the Veterinary Services have extended the risk zone of 3 km around the two farms affected in the Dromolaxia area, southeast of the capital, in a broader 10-km zone.

Fotiou said milk from the 10-kilometre zone area will be destroyed daily as part of of its measures to protect the public.

The Cyprus Veterinary Services went ahead earlier Monday with the culling of 300 animals in the Dromolaxia area, and the minister added that probably, more animals would have to be culled.

The EU expert, together with veterinary services doctors from Cyprus, is checking to see whether there are symptoms of the disease in four other farms, said Fotiou adding that samples from cattle and pigs in the affected area were taken for lab tests.

Meanwhile, Head of the Veterinary Services Charalambos Kakoyiannis called on the public and the breeders to cooperate with the Veterinary Services and monitor symptoms on animals such as blisters on their hooves and foam at the mouth.

The animals culled are buried in sites close to the farms to avoid their transportation, he added.

Animal breeders association head Panagiotis Constantinou said the situation was "extremely sad for everyone, especially the breeders", adding that they are now trying to see whether the disease has spread and if possible how to contain it in the affected area.