NICOSIA, Cyprus — Christophe Hansen, director-general of agriculture and rural development at the European Commission, visited Cyprus for meetings focused on halloumi cheese and its protected designation of origin status.
Hansen was expected to meet with officials from the Cypriot Ministry of Agriculture and members of a bicommunal working group on halloumi, according to the newspaper Fileleftheros.
The talks included discussions on inspecting halloumi produced in northern Cyprus.
The commission clarified that final products must fully comply with European Union health and plant standards.
As part of a proposed review of the inspection system, the certification body Bureau Veritas was suggested to conduct inspections. The proposal was rejected by the Cypriot Veterinary Services and affiliated agencies.
The commission also expressed concern over milk composition in halloumi production.
Under current conditions, meeting the requirement of using at least 50% sheep and goat milk by the end of the transition period in 2029 appears unlikely.
The newspaper reported that reducing the proportion of sheep and goat milk could jeopardize halloumi’s protected status and its position as Cyprus’s top agricultural export.
Authorities in Cyprus were urged to take clear steps to safeguard the cheese’s quality and competitiveness in international markets.