Lesvos livestock producers face crisis amid swine fever outbreak

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has raised concerns regarding the management of the African Swine Fever outbreak on the island of Lesvos. Through a formal inquiry submitted to the European Commission by MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, the party described the situation for local livestock producers as “desperate” and “explosive.”

According to the KKE, the Greek government and regional authorities have implemented disastrous policies aligned with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The party alleges that the government prioritized protecting the export profits of large feta cheese monopolies—valued at approximately €1 billion—over the livelihoods of local producers. This resulted in a blanket ban on cheese exports from the island.

Furthermore, the KKE criticized the lack of adequate veterinary staffing and the government's refusal to utilize vaccination, noting that Cyprus has successfully used vaccination to limit herd mortality. The party claims that current prevention efforts are insufficient and that the lack of permanent personnel and sporadic disinfection measures are failing to contain the virus.