PIG farmers in Cyprus are already keeping their pigs happy with toys and straw, in line with a new EU directive.
The ruling by the European Commission, which was passed as law in the UK on Wednesday, aims to stop pigs getting bored and becoming aggressive.
Klitos Andreou at the government’s Veterinary Department told the Cyprus Mail the government was well aware of the new regulation.
“Of course we’ve heard of it, and based on the EU directive we have already amended the old legislation and replaced it with new legislation.
“The legislation has now been passed onto the Legal Service for checks and then it will go onto the House of Representatives for approval.”
Andreou said the EU directive had come into effect in January, “but of course it takes time for a new law to be introduced”.
“The Legal Service office is obviously very busy at the moment with the Annan Plan so I would guess it might be delayed a bit.
“In any case there is a ‘breathing space’ period of two or three years to give us time to introduce the changes gradually.”
The law passed in Cyprus will not be identical to that passed in the UK, however.
“EU directives can be tailored to suit the individual country. For example, straw isn’t as necessary here as it is in northern Europe because our climate is milder and drier. But on the other hand we need better ventilation in summer to keep our pigs happy in the hot weather.”
Asked how pig farmers in Cyprus would react to the new happiness directive Andreou said: “Of course some farmers will take it more seriously than others. Actually there are already Cypriot pig farmers who give their pigs balls to play with in their sty, to keep them entertained.
“Toys can prevent pigs from biting each others tails and other problems.
“But of course toys are not the answer to all behavioural problems. We have to be proactive not just to implement short-term measures but to ensure the long-term happiness of our animals.”
Farmers breaking the law may face stiff fines or even imprisonment.
“The exact details have not been announced but the basic law for the protection of animals states that if you are convicted of violating regulations you can be fined £1,000 or be jailed for six months. Sentences and amounts will be doubled for those committing a second offence,” he added.
Kyriacos Charalambous at the Agriculture Ministry said steps had already been taken to meet EU criteria regarding pig welfare.
“We have recently passed some regulations concerning pigs and EU inspectors will be here in the spring to ensure we are progressing at a satisfactory rate.”
The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.
