Greece lifts ban on aged cheeses from Lesbos after foot-and-mouth disease restrictions

The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food has greenlit the movement of aged cheeses from the island of Lesbos, lifting a ban previously enacted due to foot-and-mouth disease. This decision, announced by the General Directorate of Veterinary Medicine, permits private individuals and visitors to transport cheese products off the island.

The lifted restriction specifically applies to cheeses that have undergone a maturation period exceeding two months. This category includes popular varieties such as feta, ladotyri, kasseri, graviera, and kefalotyri. Authorities have deemed these specific dairy products as "safe" for transport, allowing them to be carried by travelers via ferry or air.

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The decision allows travelers to transport cheeses aged over two months, including feta, ladotyri, kasseri, graviera, and kefalotyri, off the island.

The initiative followed a request from the Lesbos Cheese Producers Association. The Regional Governor of the North Aegean raised the issue with the Deputy Minister of Rural Development, seeking the removal of the restriction on mature cheeses. The ban had caused difficulties not only for producers and businesses on the island but also for tourists wishing to purchase and take home local specialties.

The Regional Governor expressed satisfaction with the decision, viewing it as a step toward normalizing the livestock and dairy sector on Lesbos. He emphasized the need to overcome the significant consequences of foot-and-mouth disease on the island's primary sector. While this new regulation provides a modest but meaningful respite for cheese producers, they continue to face challenges and the repercussions of the zoonotic disease.

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This move offers relief to local cheese producers and visitors who were previously restricted from taking these products home.