Authorities in the Turkish-Cypriot-administered north have begun disinfecting every vehicle that crosses the Green Line from the Republic-controlled south, escalating bio-security measures intended to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Agriculture and Natural Resources ‘minister’ Hüseyin Çavuş told reporters during a 26 February inspection of the Pergamos and Strovilia checkpoints that the step was necessary after cases were confirmed on farms on both sides of the divide.
Specialist teams are spraying tyres, wheel arches and undercarriages with virucidal solution, while drivers are being asked to exit their cars and walk through shoe-bath mats before proceeding to immigration booths. The operation is slowing vehicle throughput, with average wait times reportedly rising from five to 20 minutes during the morning commuter peak.
The north has already transferred 10,000 doses of FMD vaccine to the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and expects to ship another 10,000 in the coming days. Cypriot veterinary officers, assisted by EU emergency response experts, began a ring-vaccination campaign on 24 February that will ultimately cover more than half a million head of livestock. The south has culled 263 cattle so far and signalled that up to 13,000 animals could be destroyed if containment fails.
![Vehicles disinfected at Cyprus crossing points as foot-and-mouth controls tighten]()
Travellers who are unsure about the documentation or health declarations required for crossing between the two jurisdictions can streamline preparations through VisaHQ’s online platform, which offers real-time visa and entry guidance for Cyprus: https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ The service also issues alerts on temporary measures like the current FMD controls, helping commuters and tourists avoid unexpected delays.
For cross-border workers, students and supply-chain operators, the new regime introduces an additional procedural layer over and above the routine identity and customs checks that have been in force since the 2003 easing of movement restrictions. Logistics firms moving refrigerated goods between the port of Limassol and warehouses in Famagusta are warning customers to expect delivery lags and advising drivers to carry protective footwear in case they are required to step onto contaminated surfaces during inspections.
The temporary bio-security rules will remain in effect until both sides’ veterinary departments declare the outbreak under control — a process that could take several weeks. Employers with staff regularly traversing the Green Line should refresh their duty-of-care guidance and build extra slack into shift schedules, while tourists planning day trips to the north are advised to travel outside peak commuting hours.
Specialist teams are spraying tyres, wheel arches and undercarriages with virucidal solution, while drivers are being asked to exit their cars and walk through shoe-bath mats before proceeding to immigration booths. The operation is slowing vehicle throughput, with average wait times reportedly rising from five to 20 minutes during the morning commuter peak.
The north has already transferred 10,000 doses of FMD vaccine to the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and expects to ship another 10,000 in the coming days. Cypriot veterinary officers, assisted by EU emergency response experts, began a ring-vaccination campaign on 24 February that will ultimately cover more than half a million head of livestock. The south has culled 263 cattle so far and signalled that up to 13,000 animals could be destroyed if containment fails.
Travellers who are unsure about the documentation or health declarations required for crossing between the two jurisdictions can streamline preparations through VisaHQ’s online platform, which offers real-time visa and entry guidance for Cyprus: https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ The service also issues alerts on temporary measures like the current FMD controls, helping commuters and tourists avoid unexpected delays.
For cross-border workers, students and supply-chain operators, the new regime introduces an additional procedural layer over and above the routine identity and customs checks that have been in force since the 2003 easing of movement restrictions. Logistics firms moving refrigerated goods between the port of Limassol and warehouses in Famagusta are warning customers to expect delivery lags and advising drivers to carry protective footwear in case they are required to step onto contaminated surfaces during inspections.
The temporary bio-security rules will remain in effect until both sides’ veterinary departments declare the outbreak under control — a process that could take several weeks. Employers with staff regularly traversing the Green Line should refresh their duty-of-care guidance and build extra slack into shift schedules, while tourists planning day trips to the north are advised to travel outside peak commuting hours.
