Cypriot authorities have placed the entire island under a strict quarantine after veterinary labs confirmed multiple cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in livestock units near Livadia and Voroklini in Larnaca district. Under emergency decrees issued on 22 February, the movement of sheep, goats and cattle is prohibited for at least 21 days, slaughterhouses must obtain special permits, and entry to infected farms is barred. Police have cordoned off a control zone and opened criminal probes into farmers who allegedly delayed reporting symptoms.(in-cyprus.philenews.com)
The quarantine is the most severe sanitary measure Cyprus has taken since the 2001 Mediterranean FMD crisis and comes at a delicate moment for the agricultural sector, which is already grappling with drought and high feed costs. Officials fear that if the virus spreads beyond Larnaca the knock-on effects could hit meat exports and force the culling of tens of thousands of animals, jeopardising rural livelihoods and the island’s food-supply chain.
From a global-mobility perspective, the lockdown extends well beyond farm gates. Veterinary checkpoints have been authorised to close rural access roads and disinfect vehicles, while event organisers in affected communities have cancelled Green Monday festivities. Although the measures do not target human travel directly, carriers moving live animals, animal products or feed—common in expatriate relocation and supply-chain contracts—must now obtain written clearance from district veterinary offices.
![Nationwide animal-movement ban as Cyprus imposes quarantine to contain foot-and-mouth outbreak]()
VisaHQ can help organisations and individual travellers navigate any visa or permit adjustments that arise from these emergency restrictions. Through its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) the platform monitors live government advisories and facilitates fast submission of health declarations or transit paperwork, reducing the need for in-person visits while the quarantine is in place.
Corporate mobility teams should review any upcoming household-goods shipments that include leather items, pet food or other materials subject to bio-security restrictions, as these may be delayed at ports. Companies with duty-of-care obligations toward field staff in rural Cyprus are advised to implement hygiene protocols similar to those used during avian-influenza scares: dedicated footwear, vehicle disinfection, and avoidance of farm visits unless essential.
Officials expect the quarantine to remain in force until at least mid-March, pending a favourable risk assessment. The timing—just before the Orthodox fasting period—may cushion immediate meat-demand shocks, but stakeholders warn that prolonged restrictions could trigger supply gaps later in the year if not swiftly contained.
The quarantine is the most severe sanitary measure Cyprus has taken since the 2001 Mediterranean FMD crisis and comes at a delicate moment for the agricultural sector, which is already grappling with drought and high feed costs. Officials fear that if the virus spreads beyond Larnaca the knock-on effects could hit meat exports and force the culling of tens of thousands of animals, jeopardising rural livelihoods and the island’s food-supply chain.
From a global-mobility perspective, the lockdown extends well beyond farm gates. Veterinary checkpoints have been authorised to close rural access roads and disinfect vehicles, while event organisers in affected communities have cancelled Green Monday festivities. Although the measures do not target human travel directly, carriers moving live animals, animal products or feed—common in expatriate relocation and supply-chain contracts—must now obtain written clearance from district veterinary offices.
VisaHQ can help organisations and individual travellers navigate any visa or permit adjustments that arise from these emergency restrictions. Through its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) the platform monitors live government advisories and facilitates fast submission of health declarations or transit paperwork, reducing the need for in-person visits while the quarantine is in place.
Corporate mobility teams should review any upcoming household-goods shipments that include leather items, pet food or other materials subject to bio-security restrictions, as these may be delayed at ports. Companies with duty-of-care obligations toward field staff in rural Cyprus are advised to implement hygiene protocols similar to those used during avian-influenza scares: dedicated footwear, vehicle disinfection, and avoidance of farm visits unless essential.
Officials expect the quarantine to remain in force until at least mid-March, pending a favourable risk assessment. The timing—just before the Orthodox fasting period—may cushion immediate meat-demand shocks, but stakeholders warn that prolonged restrictions could trigger supply gaps later in the year if not swiftly contained.
