Livestock culls caused by the foot‑and‑mouth outbreak have reduced supplies of sheep and goat milk, prompting cheese producers to consider asking the EU to lower the required share of small‑ruminant milk used in halloumi.
Alithia reported that the European Commission has set a transition period until July 2029 for meeting the “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) milk ratio for halloumi.
Producers say they cannot meet the required levels within that timeframe.
Michalis Kyllouros, spokesman for the Cheese Producers Association, said they are considering a formal request to the Commission to reduce the 51–49 percent small‑ruminant milk requirement. He said any change would take at least one to two years, so producers must act now. He argued the ratio should reflect the actual milk available on the market to safeguard halloumi exports.
The paper also noted that, because of the outbreak, the government has temporarily lowered the minimum small‑ruminant milk content for halloumi from 25 percent to 15 percent until 31 December 2026.
