An outbreak of the foot and mouth disease on one cattle on the island of Lesvos is leading to a series strict measures, including the ban on purchases of milk and its derivatives as of Thursday, March 18, 2026. Livestock breeders and farmers on the island are in outrage.
The disease, which can affect cattle, sheep, and goats, was officially identified on Monday, March 15, at a cattle facility in northern Lesvos.
The suspension of milk purchases affects nearly 9,000 livestock farmers whose farms at this time produce 60-70 tons of milk a day, selling the milk for nearly 1.45 euros per kilo. The milk is made into cheese on Lesvos or transported elsewhere.
Speaking to Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), livestock farmer and president of the Lepetimnos Community in northern Lesvos, Themis Kammenos, said “it is the complete destruction of livestock farming on Lesvos. Starting on Thursday, we will throw away huge quantities of milk, while the lambs will go unsold because of Easter. None of them can even be sold on Lesvos, as their slaughter and distribution on the island is forbidden.”
According to local media lesvosnews.net, Lesvos is suddenly entering a regime of suffocating restrictions, with the Ministry of Rural Development effectively activating an almost “total lockdown” for livestock farming and agricultural activity on the island.
Following the confirmation of the foot-and-mouth disease case, the movement of animals, products and animal feed is prohibited, slaughter is “frozen” and even the transport of food of animal origin outside Lesvos is stopped, creating an unprecedented pressure scenario for producers and the local economy.
The following measures were put into effect:
-The movement of live animals of susceptible species (cattle, pigs, sheep and goats), as well as the movement of their products and by-products, and animal feed, outside the island is prohibited. This also includes the movement of food of animal origin by citizens in their personal luggage outside the island.
-Any movement of live animals of susceptible species within the island is prohibited.
-The slaughter of susceptible species within the island is prohibited.
-On the infected farm, all animals of susceptible species on the farm will be culled and all products will be destroyed.
Farm cooperatives and associations will hold a protest rally on Wednesday, when Deputy Minister of Rural Development & Food Christos Kellas and the Ministry’s head of Veterinary Service will hold a meeting with local officials.
The food and mouth disease comes after half a million sheep and goats were culled in many parts of Greece due to the sheep pox.
