Today, livestock farmers from Lesvos met with the Minister of Rural Development, Margaritis Schinas, after days of protests over the measures imposed in response to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
The protests peaked yesterday with the island-wide Lesvos rally, during which shops and food-service businesses remained closed, while a group of producers gathered at the port and blocked trucks from disembarking from a ship that had arrived on the island.
Messages following the meeting have been mixed. Farmers are demanding the lifting of the ban on the transport of dairy products, arguing that during production, the virus is destroyed because milk is pasteurized at high temperatures.
According to Efimerida ton Syntakton, the producers left the meeting in a tense atmosphere, protesting the lack of immediate and clear commitments, particularly regarding the restoration of the market and full compensation for the losses they are suffering daily.
Lesvos is the country’s third-largest region in dairy production and the only island licensed to produce PDO feta, according to Kathimerini.
On the other hand, the ministry said in an official statement that “the main conclusion of the meeting was that the critical situation facing Lesvos requires calm, strict compliance with the measures, and continued support for those affected by the consequences of the measures against the spread of the disease.”
It also announced a plan for partial lifting of the ban on transporting cheese from Lesvos, under strict conditions and biosecurity protocols, as well as the deployment of 10 veterinarians from ELGO-DIMITRA to assist with clinical monitoring.
So far, the government has announced emergency compensation of €8 million for cheese-producing businesses for the period from March 15 to April 5, while compensation is also expected for those who had to cull their animals. The support will be based on the proven loss of income suffered by businesses.
Specifically, the compensation:
- will be calculated based on the total value of milk purchase invoices,
- cannot exceed 1/12 of the annual VAT turnover for 2025,
- and may not exceed 100% of eligible expenses.
Sources: Εfimerida ton Sintakton, News24/7, Kathimerini [1], [2]
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