Cyprus' Cow Farmers' Coordination Committee and the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Cyprus, Nikolaos Isaris discussed during a meeting they had in Nicosia critical issues surrounding the production of halloumi cheese and the conditions imposed by European Regulation 591/2021, which registers halloumi as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

According to the Regulation, the production of halloumi must be carried out under the same standards and conditions throughout Cyprus, regardless of the market destination. However, the farmers pointed out that the cheese produced in the Turkish occupied territories of the island and bearing the name "Halloumi" does not abide with the PDO specifications, and therefore cannot bear the official name "Halloumi - Hellim".

During the meeting, the European Union's position that the production of halloumi can be a bridge of cooperation between the two sides of Cyprus, helping to build a climate of mutual trust, was underlined. Therefore, it was proposed to find a common formula for the production of the product by both communities, and the EU's assistance in this direction was requested.

The producers are asking the EU and the Republic of Cyprus for an equal treatment of the dairy sector both in the government-controlled and occupied areas of the island, pointing out that the same conditions and criteria for the production of halloumi should be applied on both sides until a final solution is found and the reunification of the island is achieved.

At present, they say, there is unequal treatment between producers in the government-controlled and occupied areas. While producers in the occupied territories can trade halloumi without restrictions on the use of goat and sheep's milk in third countries, producers in the government-controlled areas are subject to strict adherence to quotas on the milk mix and PDO specifications, regardless of the destination of the product. This, they argue, increases production costs and creates conditions of unfair competition.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.