Vangelis Apostolou

A bill that had proposed changes to the treatment of pets and stray animals has been withdrawn from public discussion following vehement criticism by animal rights groups over its provisions.

Agricultural Development Minister Vangelis Apostolou said Tuesday the legislation would be reviewed and reopened to debate once the contentious provisions have been revised.

A bill that had proposed changes to the treatment of pets and stray animals has been withdrawn from public discussion following vehement criticism by animal rights groups about its provisions.

Agricultural Development Minister Vangelis Apostolou said on Tuesday the legislation would be reviewed and reopened to debate once the contentious provisions have been revised.

A draft bill laying the ground rules governing cannabis production in Greece was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.

The bill, a document prepared jointly by officials at the Health, Economy, Agriculture and Justice ministries, seeks to end the country's reliance on foreign imports of medical cannabis.

Unionists representing Greek farmers who have stepped up their protests in recent weeks over the government's ongoing austerity measures are to meet with Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou on Monday to discuss their demands.

Over the weekend, hundreds of farmers converged on the northern port city of Thessaloniki to protest outside the annual Agrotica agricultural trade fair.

The ban on fishing trawlers in the Saronic Gulf has been extended by another two months, authorities said on Monday.

Agricultural Development Minister Vangelis Apostolou has pledged the swift disbursement of funds to farmers who suffered damage in last month's wildfires on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, local media reported Friday.

Hundreds of farmers are to converge on Athens on Tuesday in a bid to win support for their ongoing protests against the government's tax and social security reforms.

Farmers who have been blocking road junctions for three weeks in protest at the government's ongoing austerity program are to converge in Athens on Tuesday for a demonstration.

Talks between government officials and unionists at the end of last week failed to yield a compromise, prompting unionists to threaten further action.

Agricultural Development Minister Vangelis Apostolou vowed improvements to Greek legislation protecting the ancient vineyards of Santorini, telling Kathimerini that efforts will also be made to designate this wine-producing island a "high-yield zone" to curb the expansion of construction.

Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos has asked the Greek Tourism Ministry to declare that the island has reached its tourism saturation point, as the law provides for.