Athienou bread and loukoumi submitted for protected geographical status

The Cyprus Department of Agriculture officially submitted two applications to the European Commission on September 25, 2026, seeking to register 'Athienou bread' and 'Athienou loukoumi' as Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). The applications have already received approval at the national level, with the relevant information published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus.

This initiative seeks to preserve the regional heritage and authenticity of these traditional Cypriot products within the European single market. If the European Commission grants the status, the certification will provide legal protection against imitation, preventing unauthorized use of the product names. The Ministry of Agriculture expects a favorable decision from the European authorities within 2027, which is intended to strengthen the local economy of the Athienou region and enhance the market recognition of these artisanal goods across all member states.