Cyprus is taking a two-pronged approach to strengthen protections for halloumi cheese, a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product, as the ten-year transition period concludes on July 9, 2024.  The first measure utilises EU regulations to extend the timeframe for determining the milk origin ratio in halloumi production by five years. This allows for continued monitoring and refinement.  The second measure has to do with a decree, modifying the minimum ratio of goat and sheep milk required in halloumi production from June 10, 2024. Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou will meet stakeholders on Thursday and Friday to finalise the decree details.  “These actions are crucial to safeguard the integrity of Halloumi as a PDO product,” Minister Panayiotou told the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture.  The Minister also highlighted enforcement efforts, with 25 inspections conducted in 2024, leading to six cases of non-compliance identified at dairy plants.  Furthermore, a collaborative research project was announced between the Ministry, TEPAK (Cyprus University of Technology), the State General Laboratory, and the Department of Agriculture. This project aims to develop methods for ensuring halloumi’s authenticity as a unique Cypriot product. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: in-cyprus.philenews.com