The Cyprus Council of Ministers approved a compensation plan on Wednesday to fund the culling of up to 33,000 healthy piglets. This measure, titled the “Support Plan for the Pig Farming Sector (Piglets),” was initiated by the Department of Agriculture to prevent the collapse of local pig farms amid a severe market crisis.

The crisis stems from a countrywide ban on exports of fresh pork and non-heat-treated products, mandated by European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/582 due to foot-and-mouth disease. These restrictions, which have been extended across all of Cyprus until August 1, 2026, have created massive domestic surpluses. According to Giorgos Andreou, chairman of the Cyprus Pig Farmers’ Association, producers are unable to offload the usual weekly surplus of 1,500 pigs, leading to animals exceeding 120 kilograms and incurring unsustainable fattening costs. Euthanizing weaned piglets is seen as a necessary step to stabilize the sector and avoid the drastic alternative of slaughtering breeding sows.

Moving forward, the government is implementing this plan immediately to manage market balance. The industry anticipates that reducing the number of piglets at the earliest stage will mitigate larger losses later this year, while the export ban remains in effect through at least August 1.