30/03/2021 16:19
Cypriot traditional cheese halloumi’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) registration constitutes a great collective success which if properly made the most of may have enormous benefits to agriculture, industry and society and economy in Cyprus in general, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis has said.
Kadis, who was addressing on Tuesday, a press conference, to mark the registration of halloumi as PDO on Monday by the EU, said it was a historic, positive development for the country and an excellent investment for this and future generations.
At the same time, he noted that it is expected that this success and exclusivity will result in significant investments in the entire production chain, but also in the country’s society and economy.
Replying to questions the Agriculture Minister said that the trade of halloumi from the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus will take place under strict conditions, adding that reports of animals and milk being used from Turkey without any oversight were unfounded.
He also said that for about a year there will be no trade of the product from the Turkish occupied areas to guarantee that the region is free from animal diseases which will have to be certified by the international organisation which will carry out phytosanitary inspections.
Kadis pointed out that the timing of the decision sends a message to Turkish Cypriots that they will be able to have multiple benefits through EU procedures in a unified country, despite the fact that the registration procedure was ongoing before it became evident whether there would be possible developments in the effort to resolve the Cyprus problem.
The Commission had received the official application for the registration of the names ‘Χαλλουμι’ (Halloumi)/‘Hellim’ as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for a cheese made predominantly from ewes` and/or goat milk under the Quality Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on 17 July 2014. The application covers producers from the whole island and foresees the protection of the name in the two languages, Greek and Turkish.
According to available data exports of halloumi in the last 5 years have steadily increased by 20% - 22% on an annual basis.
Between 2017 – 2019 the quantity of halloumi exports was up from 23,431 tonnes in 2017 to 33,672 tonnes in 2019, recording an increase of 43%.
The value of exports has had a similar upward trend that is to say 43% within three years, reaching in 2019 €223.7 million. As a result, halloumi is the second most important export product in terms of value for Cyprus after medicines.
The UK continues to the main export destination which between 2017 and 2019 absorbed approximately 47% of Cypriot total halloumi exports, with an average of 13,545 tonnes annually and an average annual export value of €89 million.
Sweden is the second most important export destination for the cheese product having absorbed during the same three years 15% of total exports, with an average of 4,246 tonnes annually and an average annual value of €28.7 million.
Germany, Austria, Denmark and Greece follow.
Markets outside Europe include Australia with 1,265 tonnes annually, S. Arabia with 736 tonnes annually and the US with about 436 tonnes annual. China could also be a potential market for halloumi exports particularly following a bilateral agreement signed in November 2018 on milk and cheese products exports.
Local halloumi consumption is between 3,500 and 4,000 tonnes annually.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Numerous UN-backed negotiations for the reunification of the country, did not yield any results. UN Secretary General has called for a new meeting on Cyprus 27-29 April in Geneva.