Cyprus livestock sector faces inventory crisis and foot-and-mouth disease aftermath

The Union of Goat and Sheep Producer Groups has requested a minimum one-month extension for the mandatory livestock census, originally due by September 9, 2026. The Union warned Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis that many farmers cannot complete the process because mandatory animal genotyping by Veterinary Services is delayed due to understaffing. Failure to complete this census threatens producers' eligibility for funding under the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan and other capital grants.

Simultaneously, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture discussed the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. General Director of Agriculture Andreas Grigoriou reported that no new cases have been identified since June 9, 2026. The outbreak resulted in the culling of 80,133 animals across 121 farms. To date, approximately €17.5 million in compensation has been paid for livestock, milk, and feed, with €14.5 million dedicated specifically to the culling of livestock. While most claims are settled, four cases are pending with the Legal Service, and three were rejected as ineligible. The Committee is currently pushing for the prompt resolution of these remaining compensation files to support the sector's recovery.