Zeybek: 400,000 animals culled, sector on the brink of collapse

New Left Party MP for Xanthi (İskeçe), Hüseyin Zeybek, delivered a speech in Parliament accusing the government of failing to effectively combat the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, warning that the country’s agriculture and livestock sectors are being “driven into collapse.”

Zeybek stated that more than 400,000 animals have been culled in the past 15 months, amounting to approximately 7% of Greece’s total livestock population. Over 1,500 farms have suffered severe losses, he added, with more than 120,000 animals destroyed in the Eastern Macedonia–Thrace region alone.

“Only 25 out of 227 Farms Remain Operational”

According to data from the İskeçe Livestock Association, Zeybek reported that the sector in İskeçe is on the verge of collapse. Out of 227 farms in the region, only 25 remain active, while 202 have lost their entire herds. Similar situations have been observed in Thessaly, Achaea, Serres, and Aetolia-Acarnania, he noted.

“€1 Billion in Support Remains Unpaid”

Zeybek sharply criticized the government, claiming that a promised €1 billion support package for producers has not been delivered and accusing officials of “abandoning the sector to enrich favored groups.”

He condemned the government’s response to farmers’ protests, saying authorities deployed water cannons and riot police instead of engaging in dialogue. “They avoid talking to farmers because they know their record is far from clean,” Zeybek said.

Monitoring Failures, Land Consolidation Errors, Missing Compensation

The MP highlighted monitoring system failures in Thrace, which he said have unjustly excluded many producers from receiving subsidies by rejecting eligible and cultivated land.

Zeybek cited major errors in land consolidation carried out by OPEKEPE in the village of Zeynelli, which prevented farmers from receiving due payments and resulted in unfair penalties. He reminded Parliament that he has already submitted a formal question on the issue.

“Delayed Measures Deepened the Crisis”

Zeybek stated that veterinarians were forcibly assigned duties under the threat of 4–8-month disciplinary action, a measure he argued did nothing to resolve the crisis.

He also criticized the lack of proper disinfection at slaughterhouses, transportation routes, and entry points during the early stages of the outbreak, saying this allowed the disease to spread further.

“Do Not Let the Sector Become Beggars”

Calling for immediate compensation, Zeybek said: “The livestock sector should not be reduced to begging for payments at the government’s discretion.”

He argued that the new draft law is incomplete and overdue, and urged the government to address the sector’s urgent needs by implementing the following measures:

• Permanent hiring of veterinarians
• Strict controls on livestock and feed transport
• Comprehensive inspections at markets and entry gates
• Exempting all related payments from seizure
• Expanding the De Minimis aid mechanism for all compensations

Zeybek concluded by saying: “The tragedy we are witnessing today could have been completely prevented with timely and proper measures.”