Cyprus government details strategy to meet halloumi PDO standards by 2029

The Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture has presented a new comprehensive action plan to ensure halloumi cheese fully complies with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) standards by the transition deadline of July 2029. During a session of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, ministry officials described the product as a "national asset," noting that annual exports currently exceed €350 million. Key components of the government's strategy include increasing sheep and goat milk production to meet the mandated 50 percent threshold required for the PDO certification.

To achieve these production goals, the government is facilitating the development of 26 large-scale livestock units on state-owned land, each housing over 800 productive animals; these plots have already been allocated to beneficiaries. Furthermore, the State General Laboratory is expected to introduce a new testing methodology to detect illegal milk powder usage by the end of this year. Committee chairman Giannakis Gavriel expressed caution, highlighting that despite consistent governmental promises since 2014, significant challenges remain regarding production costs and the efficacy of the support chain for sheep and goat farmers.