The European Commissioner for animal health and welfare, Oliver Varhelyi, is visiting the island on Friday to assess the current foot and mouth outbreak and how Cyprus is handling it.

Verhelyi will visit the Zenon crisis coordination centre in Larnaca before meeting with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou and representatives of foot and mouth affected livestock units.

Later in the day, he is expected to meet with agricultural organisations, producer representatives and officials from relevant government agencies and MPs.

Following his meetings, Verhelyi will be received by President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace.

Christodoulides had earlier this week spoken with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding producers’ requests not to slaughter asymptomatic animals.