‘Environment a top priority for Cyprus’

THE AGRICULTURE Ministry considers matters of environment and food safety vastly important, which is why it has implemented strict control programmes, Agriculture Minister Photis Photiou said yesterday.

Speaking during a meeting with the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, Photiou referred to the large task of harmonising Cyprus legislation with Europe’s acquis communautaire and added that President Tassos Papadopoulos was especially concerned with the matter, requesting to be informed on each ministry’s progress in all Cabinet meetings.

For his ministry, Photiou said matters concerning the environment and food safety were of top priority.

Cyprus has improved a lot in food hygiene issues, he added, but there were still a few weaknesses that needed to be rectified.

“There is no room for leniency when it comes to matters that have to do with the health and safety of consumers,” Photiou told the EU delegation.

Regarding the environment, Photiou said that since September 2006, his ministry had implemented a full waste management programme and created recycling stations in 13 areas. “Our ambition is to cover the entire free areas of Cyprus within the next few months,” he said.

The government is promoting relevant programmes for renewable energy sources, he added, aiming at absorbing six per cent of energy from such sources.

Responding to MEPs’ questions, the minister said that 40 areas had been included in the Natura 2000 programme, while he informed them on the Akamas issue and the peninsula’s communities’ objections to developing the area.

Photiou added that a full organisation plan for Akamas was ready to be submitted to the Cabinet in its next session.

Cypriot MEP Adamos Adamou expressed the delegation’s satisfaction at the responses received by the Agriculture Minster.

“We are satisfied at the new regulations that are being promoted by the Agriculture Ministry,” said the MEP.

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