Cabinet extends deadline for forest land use permits for farmers

The Cyprus Council of Ministers has decided to postpone the requirement for farmers to possess a valid forest land use permit as a condition for receiving agricultural subsidies until January 1, 2028. This extension, proposed by Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis, aims to assist farmers—particularly those in the Famagusta and Kokkinochoria regions—in complying with current regulatory requirements without risking the immediate loss of financial aid from the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization (KOAP).

This decision marks a shift from the previous 2022 policy, which initially mandated that all existing forest land use permits for agricultural and livestock purposes should be terminated by December 31, 2022. By extending the transition period through the end of the current programming cycle, the government intends to prevent potential disruption to the farmers' livelihoods and allow sufficient time to secure the necessary documentation. The Department of Forests will implement transitional and supportive measures to facilitate this compliance process for the affected producers.