The fact that there is reaction from some foreign companies to Cyprus` efforts to register its traditional cheese `halloumi` as Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) demonstrates that Cyprus was right in proceeding with the application to register this product, Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis has told CNA.
The Minister, who was asked to comment on reaction by some foreign companies to the process to register halloumi, explained that governments, within the EU and beyond, have the right to submit their objections to this process by the 28th of October.
So far, no official objection has been filed, he added.
The fact that some foreign companies have been alarmed, he pointed out, shows the correctness of the decision to apply to register halloumi as PDO, adding that as long as the issue is pending, no other country can submit an application to register halloumi as PDO.
The Minister also said that the reactions had been anticipated, noting that they indicate the importance of this cheese product.
Once halloumi is registered as PDO, demand will rise since other foreign companies will not be allowed to produce this Cypriot product, he said.
Kouyialis told CNA that if by October 28th no objection is submitted, then the EU Commission will register halloumi as PDO. If objections are submitted, the Commission will either reject them and register the Cypriot product as PDO or ask Cyprus to reply to those objections.
The Cypriot Minister will hold on the 7th of September a series of meetings with EU counterparts in Brussels, in an attempt to avert any adverse developments on the matter.
