Goat and Sheep Farmers Concerned About Foot-and-Mouth Disease

The Coordinating Committee of Goat and Sheep Farmers has expressed concern about the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, emphasizing the need for collective effort and coordinated measures to address the crisis.

In their announcement, they stressed that now is not the time for criticism, but for cooperation, aiming to curb the spread of the disease that threatens livestock and halloumi production.

The Committee called on the Veterinary Services to implement a comprehensive package of measures, based on scientific data and the experience of other countries. These measures should cover all aspects of crisis management, from protection zones to guidelines for waste management.

Furthermore, they emphasized the need for the State to support affected farmers financially and psychologically, with compensation that reflects the real value of the animals and ensures their sustainable reintegration into the profession.

The Committee condemned any form of negligence or illegality that led to the emergence of the disease and called for the punishment of those responsible, stressing that scapegoats should not be sought.

Finally, they appealed to all goat and sheep farmers to strictly implement biosecurity measures and immediately inform the Veterinary Services of any suspicion of disease.