The Cabinet has approved a €35.6 million compensation package for farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak that began in February 2026, with payments covering direct compensation, income support and livestock rebuilding.
The package was proposed by the Agriculture Ministry and sets revised ceiling prices for the market value of animals seized, culled and compensated. All payments will be made as direct cash transfers to affected farmers’ accounts. An earlier option to compensate farmers with livestock in kind was dropped to avoid legal and administrative complications and to secure EU co-funding.
The new rates apply retroactively from February 20, 2026 — the date the first case was confirmed — and remain in force until July 31, 2026. They were developed by the Agricultural Research Institute in cooperation with the Special Advisory Committee, the Agriculture Department and the Veterinary Services, based on real market data and invoices from recent months.
President Nikos Christodoulides said the support package exceeds European equivalents by between 150% and 200%. Responding to criticism from some farmers who said he had not met with them personally, he said: “One government exists. Sector representatives had already been in contact with the Agriculture Minister and ministry officials.”
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou outlined the support measures, developed within the Special Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of cattle, pig and sheep/goat farmers.
The support measures
Direct compensation for culled animals
Cash payments to all 112 affected farmers, totalling €20.4 million, based on the revised ceiling prices per animal category set out below.
Income support
Farmers who wish to resume operations will receive income support for a minimum of 12 months. The total estimated cost is €8.6 million.
Livestock rebuilding
A plan will be drawn up to restock farms with high genetic value animals, based on criteria set by the Scientific Committee for Livestock Rebuilding, headed by Stavros Malas.
Feed cost coverage
Feed costs for newly acquired animals will be covered during the period in which those animals are not yet contributing to farm income.
Compensation rates by animal category
Goats and sheep — €47 to €420 per animal
Animals are classified into three types by breed:
- Improved: Chios sheep, Friesian, Awassi, Assaf, Lacaune and Damascus goats, Alpine, Saanen and similar breeds without pedigree certificates, and crossbreeds where these breeds predominate
- Semi-improved: Crossbreeds of local and improved breeds
- Unimproved: Local goat and sheep breeds
Female goats and sheep
Lambs and kids (applied in full herd seizures):
- Up to 45 days: up to €58 (all breeds)
- 46 days to three months: up to €230 (improved), €202 (semi-improved), €173 (unimproved)
- Three to six months: up to €85 (improved), €76 (semi-improved), €69 (unimproved)
- Six to 12 months: up to €201 (improved), €181 (semi-improved), €163 (unimproved)
Dry/maintenance period and early pregnancy:
- One to five years: up to €216 (improved), €187 (semi-improved), €158 (unimproved)
- Over five years: up to €173 (improved), €144 (semi-improved), €115 (unimproved)
Advanced pregnancy and lactation:
- One to two years: up to €216 (improved), €187 (semi-improved), €158 (unimproved)
- Two to five years: up to €259 (improved), €230 (semi-improved), €202 (unimproved)
- Over five years: up to €245 (improved), €216 (semi-improved), €187 (unimproved)
Male goats and sheep (rams and billy goats)
- Six to 12 months: up to €245 (improved), €216 (semi-improved), €187 (unimproved)
- One to two years: up to €288 (improved), €259 (semi-improved), €230 (unimproved)
- Two to five years: up to €259 (improved), €230 (semi-improved), €202 (unimproved)
- Over five years: up to €187 (improved), €158 (semi-improved), €130 (unimproved)
Pedigree goats and sheep (with official certificates)
Female pedigree:
- Lambs/kids up to 45 days: up to €58
- Lambs/kids 46 days to three months: up to €201
- Lambs/kids three to six months: up to €85
- Dry/maintenance period, six months to five years: up to €360
- Dry/maintenance period, over five years: up to €180
- Lactation/advanced pregnancy, one to three years: up to €396
- Lactation/advanced pregnancy, three to five years: up to €378
- Lactation/advanced pregnancy, over five years: up to €216
Male pedigree:
- Six to 12 months: up to €378
- One to two years: up to €420
- Two to five years: up to €357
- Over five years: up to €252
Cattle — €150 to €2,500 per animal
Dairy cows
- Up to five years: €2,000–€2,500
- Five to seven years: €1,500–€2,000
- Over seven years: €750–€1,500
Heifers
- 12 to 18 months: €1,500–€2,000
- 18 to 24 months: €2,000–€2,500
Bulls
- 12 to 18 months: €1,500–€1,800
- Over 18 months: €1,800–€2,300
Calves (male or female)
- Up to three months: €150–€300
- Three to six months: €300–€750
- Six to 12 months: €750–€1,500
Pigs — €35 to €5,000 per animal
Pigs are included in a compensation proposal for the first time following confirmed infection of pig units. Compensation ranges from €35 to €5,000 per animal depending on the animal’s characteristics and productive value.
