The “last obstacle” in the registration of halloumi cheese as a product with protected designation of origin (PDO) is according to Nicos Kouyialis, the Minister of Agriculture, the disagreement over the amendment of the Green Line Regulation. Kouyialis appeared however optimistic that they will overcome this obstacle by the end of the year.
“There is a disagreement with the European Commission over the way to amend the Green Line Regulation, in order to allow for the trading of halloumi from the occupied to the free areas” of Cyprus, the Minister said on Thursday, in statements at the House of Representatives.
The Green Line Regulation sets out the terms under which persons and goods can cross from the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus into the areas controlled by the government of Cyprus.
As Kouyialis explained, both the European Commission and the Turkish Cypriot side support the amendment of the Green Line Regulation, to include all products from animals, a point with which the Republic of Cyprus disagrees.
Nicosia supports the view that the Regulation should only include halloumi and no other animal products, the Minister added.
Kouyialis also said that the review of the file to register halloumi as PDO product is in an advanced stage in front of the European Commission. Currently, objections are being reviewed coming from 9 non-EU countries.
