Complementing the new Green-Line protocols, the Agriculture Ministry late Monday ordered round-the-clock disinfection at all buffer-zone checkpoints. Where officers previously operated in shifts, teams will now man each site continuously, ensuring no vehicle from the north enters the Republic without a virucidal wash.
Veterinary Services director Christodoulos Pipis said the 24-hour regime was necessary because traffic volumes surge after dark when haulage firms seek to avoid daytime congestion. The ministry has contacted the National Guard, British Bases, police and farmers’ unions to supplement manpower and maintain disinfectant supplies. Farmers with holdings near the cease-fire line have been told to set up makeshift spray stations for tractors and milk tankers.
![24-Hour Vehicle Spraying Introduced at Buffer-Zone Checkpoints]()
Officials stress that the clamp-down is temporary but could last several weeks. A joint committee of cattle, sheep, goat and pig producers will meet daily with ministry technicians to review lab results and decide whether to lift, tighten or geographically expand measures.
The private sector is already feeling the knock-on effects. Logistics providers report delays of 20-30 minutes per crossing, while tour operators running north-south day trips are rerouting coaches through less-busy checkpoints. HR departments with staff living in one zone and working in the other are advising employees to carry proof of residence and factor in longer commutes.
If the controls succeed in preventing spill-over infections, Cyprus can avoid the severe export bans that crippled neighbouring countries during past FMD crises. Until then, global-mobility teams should treat the buffer zone as a potential choke-point and adjust travel and supply-chain plans accordingly.
Veterinary Services director Christodoulos Pipis said the 24-hour regime was necessary because traffic volumes surge after dark when haulage firms seek to avoid daytime congestion. The ministry has contacted the National Guard, British Bases, police and farmers’ unions to supplement manpower and maintain disinfectant supplies. Farmers with holdings near the cease-fire line have been told to set up makeshift spray stations for tractors and milk tankers.
Officials stress that the clamp-down is temporary but could last several weeks. A joint committee of cattle, sheep, goat and pig producers will meet daily with ministry technicians to review lab results and decide whether to lift, tighten or geographically expand measures.
The private sector is already feeling the knock-on effects. Logistics providers report delays of 20-30 minutes per crossing, while tour operators running north-south day trips are rerouting coaches through less-busy checkpoints. HR departments with staff living in one zone and working in the other are advising employees to carry proof of residence and factor in longer commutes.
If the controls succeed in preventing spill-over infections, Cyprus can avoid the severe export bans that crippled neighbouring countries during past FMD crises. Until then, global-mobility teams should treat the buffer zone as a potential choke-point and adjust travel and supply-chain plans accordingly.
Source: In-Cyprus
