President Christodoulides to Discuss Halloumi Production with Stakeholders
In a notable development for Cyprus’s dairy industry, President Nikos Christodoulides is set to convene a meeting in April with key figures in the halloumi cheese sector. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou confirmed the upcoming gathering, emphasizing the significance of collaboration among those involved in halloumi production.
The meeting comes at a time when the Cypriot government has endorsed a fresh batch of regulations concerning geographical indications and the quality assurance of products. These new rules are expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union shortly.
A critical aspect of the new regulations is the allowance for a five-year extension on the transitional period related to milk ratios in the protected designation of origin (PDO) halloumi. The initial requirement was for goat and sheep milk to constitute at least 50% of PDO halloumi by July. However, this deadline has been extended to 2029, providing producers with more time to adjust. Currently, goat and sheep milk account for 25% of the composition during this transition phase.
Minister Panayiotou highlighted that the government has already initiated dialogue with all relevant groups. She stressed that reaching a consensus is imperative, as the collective aim should be to safeguard the PDO status of halloumi.
The urgency of these discussions is underscored by recent legal actions taken by cattle breeders. In February, they petitioned the European Court of Justice to revoke halloumi’s PDO status in an effort to prevent a decrease in the proportion of cow’s milk used in the product. Their bid, however, did not succeed.
With these developments, the upcoming meeting promises to be a pivotal moment for the future of halloumi production and its adherence to both traditional methods and modern regulations.
