Goat and sheep farmers request extension for livestock census in Cyprus

The Union of Goat and Sheep Producer Groups has formally requested that the Cypriot Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Christos Senekis, grant at least a one-month extension for the mandatory livestock census. The current deadline for completing the census is September 9, 2026.

The Union highlights that completing this census is a prerequisite for eligibility regarding intervention measures under the 2023–2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan and other potential capital aid schemes. The primary obstacle to meeting the deadline is the requirement for animal genotyping to be performed by Veterinary Services. Due to the high volume of livestock units and animals, combined with limited personnel availability in the Veterinary Services, many farmers find it practically impossible to complete the necessary procedures by the set date.

This request emphasizes the bureaucratic difficulties facing the sector, as the genotyping backlog directly prevents farmers from fulfilling their statutory obligations. As of now, the Minister has been urged to intervene to ensure that farmers do not lose access to critical financial aid due to administrative delays in the veterinary department.