The total culling of animals on farms affected by foot and mouth disease is a legal obligation, the Veterinary Services stressed on Sunday and called on all farmers to strictly implement biosafety measures.

In response to a memorandum received from a group of protesting farmers, the Veterinary Services said the EU regulation on culling did not allow derogations.

“Consequently, universal culling is not an option, but a legal obligation, which applies to all farm animals and not just those with positive clinical or laboratory findings,” the services explained.

The services pointed out that foot and mouth was a category A disease and total culling was necessary to protect public interest and health in member states.

Regarding compensation to farmers, those whose animals were culled before Easter have already received an advance payment for loss of income and full compensation for milk and animal feed. Those whose animals were culled after Easter will be paid in April.

Hay destroyed will also be compensated in full through a separate process.

The Veterinary Services added that the compensation per animal will be decided in due course, based on the market value of the animals.

So far, they said, a financial package of €28 million has been approved for compensation and payments have been ongoing since March.

Restoring the livestock population is also being examined, the services added.

The services also defended their laboratory findings, following a demand by certain farmers for private testing as they claimed the state testing was illegal.

“The procedure followed does not violate either the right to a fair trial or the right to defence. The above has been confirmed twice by the EU health commissioner himself during his visits to Cyprus,” the services said.

The services pointed out that what was important was to prevent the virus from spreading further.