Government tightens penalties as animal culling continues

Animal culling aimed at containing the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is continuing as planned, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Thursday, while the cabinet has approved significantly tougher penalties for violations of animal health legislation.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Panayiotou said the culling programme was progressing normally following measures announced earlier this week, citing the case of a livestock farm in Pachna where infected animals are due to be put...