Greece’s all-important livestock sector is facing a critical situation due to the combined impact of sheep pox and foot-and-mouth disease, one of the most serious animal diseases affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs.

Although the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is currently limited to the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos, concerns over its potential spread remain high. Speaking at a briefing, newly appointed Agriculture and Food Minister Margaritis Schinas, a former EU vice-president, stressed that the threat is ongoing and requires immediate attention.

A nationwide farmers’ rally in Athens, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, organized by the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece, protesting delayed subsidies, backlogs, and heavy livestock losses from the sheep and goat pox outbreak. (Tatiana Bolari/Eurokinissi)

Authorities warned that the issue is no longer just local or national but could become a broader European problem if the disease spreads beyond the island. The minister emphasized that “this is not the time to assign blame, but to fight and manage the crisis,” describing the situation as a “major crisis.” A new response plan has been introduced, built around four key axes, with further measures expected in the coming days.

The first initiative focuses on compensation for culled animals, with payments to be made per animal under a unified and accelerated framework. All livestock farmers who were forced to cull animals for biosecurity reasons will be eligible. The second measure introduces compensation for lost income, particularly for sheep and goats, with payments scaled by age and type of animal to support farmers affected by production losses.

Additional measures include subsidies for animal feed, particularly for farmers in restricted zones on Lesbos facing increased costs, as well as planned compensation for milk that is either destroyed or not produced due to containment measures. This latter measure is being coordinated with the European Commission and is expected to be clarified further soon.