Inspections of Turkish Cypriot halloumi producers to begin

Inspections of Turkish Cypriot halloumi producers will begin with a view to allowing Turkish Cypriot halloumi to be exported across the Green Line and into the wider European Union, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Thursday.

He wrote in a post on social media that the legislation allowing halloumi to be exported across the Green Line as a product of protected designation of origin (PDO) had entered into force in 2021, but that in the intervening five years, no inspectors were appointed to certify the producers and thus allow them to export their products.

Now, he said, Paris’ Bureau Veritas has been appointed to carry out the inspections, and is “authorised to inspect the requirements specified in the regulation which will enable the trade of halloumi via the Green Line”.

“In this way, another important hurdle has been overcome in the process which will enable halloumi, one of our most important export products, to access European Union countries, indirectly, if not directly, via the Green Line,” he said.

He added that his office will continue its efforts “to swiftly complete the remaining stages, overcome the remaining internal and external issues, and ensure that this trade actually begins as soon as possible”.

“Halloumi is an important part of our island’s shared cultural and historical heritage. The equal and fair valuation of this valuable product will benefit both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots,” he said.

At present, four Turkish Cypriot producers are listed on the EU’s PDO register: Gulgun, located in the Nicosia district village of Epicho, Arden, located in the Nicosia suburb of Mia Milia, Garanti, located in the Nicosia district village of Argaki, and Meric, located in the Nicosia district village of Mora.

Previously, a European Commission spokesperson had told the Cyprus Mail that the export of Turkish Cypriot halloumi will begin “once the Turkish Cypriot community reaches the required EU food safety and animal health standards”.

Last year, the commission provided €6.5 million in funding to increase Turkish Cypriot halloumi producers’ compliance with the EU’s PDO requirements.

“The programme seeks to facilitate Cyprus’ reunification by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community,” a European Commission spokesperson told the Cyprus Mail at the time.

In this regard, “specific attention is paid to the economic integration of the island, improving contact and exchanges between the two communities and with the EU, and preparation for the implementation of the acquis in the Turkish Cypriot community following a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue,” the spokesperson added.