Cyprus secures halloumi PDO status with 5-year plan

Cyprus has been granted a 5-year transition period by the European Commission to comply with the requirements for the production of halloumi as a product with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), as the initial 10-year transition period requested by the Republic of Cyprus expires on July 9. At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture will issue a decree regarding the quotas for sheep-goat milk and cow's milk, and will also consult with all stakeholders before the final adoption of the decree.

The above was stated on Tuesday by the Agriculture Minister and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, where the discussion continued on the problems arising in relation to marketing halloumi as a PDO product and on measures to support producers.

In her statements after the end of the Committee's session, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, said that "the protection of PDO halloumi and its preservation as our main export agri-food product are our two main objectives, which we want to ensure during the five-year transition period, where measures will be taken to help us achieve the objectives we have mentioned above, always having as our basic principle the sustainability of all those involved in the sector."

The Minister of Agriculture added that at the end of the week there will be a consultation with all stakeholders before the final adoption of the decree and decision that will lead through this transition period.