Cyprus reduces goat's milk quota for PDO halloumi following foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

The Cypriot government has issued a decree lowering the mandatory proportion of goat and sheep milk in PDO halloumi production to 15% from the current 25%. This measure, effective starting next Friday until the end of the year, is a direct response to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that began in February 2026. Data from the Department of Agriculture shows the culling of 40,128 goats and sheep, as well as 2,816 cows across 109 units. Consequently, goat and sheep milk production in April 2026 fell to 7.35 million liters, a 24.6% decrease from the 9.76 million liters recorded in April 2025. While total milk production decreased by approximately 10%, the supply of cow's milk notably increased despite the culling of roughly 3,000 cows. The Ministry of Agriculture submitted this proposal for consultation on May 8, 2026. This adjustment aims to balance strict EU specifications with the current crisis in the livestock sector.