Livestock farmers demand transparency on compensation and halloumi policy

Members of the 'Voice of the Livestock Farmers' association met in Choirokoitia to discuss the ongoing dispute regarding foot-and-mouth disease compensation packages and recent government decrees. Association president Neofytos Neofytou and representative Stella Petrou expressed disagreement with the compensation calculation criteria, noting that while the amounts are higher than in other EU countries, there is a lack of clarity on how specific valuations were reached. The farmers criticized the government for excluding them from the decision-making process. Additionally, they voiced opposition to a new decree reducing the minimum goat and sheep milk content in PGI halloumi from 25% to 15%. The group announced that over 40 producers have defected from other agricultural organizations to join their movement. A meeting with Minister of Agriculture Maria Panagiotou is scheduled for Monday to discuss these issues. If the results of this meeting are deemed unsatisfactory, the association has warned that they will initiate protest actions.