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The government will partially lift a ban on the sale of cheese from the foot-and-mouth disease-hit island of Lesvos, Rural Development Minister Margaritis Schinas promised Friday following a meeting with local livestock breeders.<\/p>\n
Schinas also stressed the need for strict adherence to other restrictions designed to stop the spread of the deadly livestock disease on the eastern Aegean Sea island, and pledged to send extra vets to Lesvos and set up a field crisis management team there, according to a ministry statement.<\/p>\n
Greece\u2019s first outbreak in 25 years of foot-and-mouth, which does not affect humans but is highly contagious among livestock, was recorded on northern Lesvos in mid-March. Since then, authorities have been striving to keep it from spreading to the rest of the island and other parts of Greece.<\/p>\n
Lesvos livestock breeders and dairy enterprises have for days been protesting \u2013 blockading the island\u2019s main port of Mytilini and disrupting ferry schedules \u2013 to demand compensation for animals culled due to the epidemic and an easing of health measures, which include a blanket ban on livestock and dairy products leaving the island.<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s Agriculture Ministry statement said officials were working on a plan to allow some cheese from Lesvos to be sold, under strict biosecurity restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe general conclusion of the meeting was that the crucial situation Lesvos finds itself in requires calm, strict adherence to [public health] measures and constant support for everyone who is affected by the measures against the spread of the disease,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
The government has approved an emergency \u20ac8 million compensation program for local dairy companies.<\/p>\n
The foot-and-mouth outbreak comes as much of the country is struggling with a persisting sheep and goat pox epidemic that has led to nearly 500,000 animals being culled since August 2024 and is threatening the future of Greece\u2019s traditional livestock breeding sector.<\/p>\n
The government has ruled out vaccinations against the disease, which farmers are pressing for and the European Union has recommended, arguing that this would hit Greek feta cheese exports that are worth about \u20ac1 billion a year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n