Halloumi could disappear off Aussie shelves after farmers object to PDO

Halloumi cheese could soon become very hard to find in Australian supermarkets after it was declared a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product by the European Union as the country’s dairy industry was preparing to fight it, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper said the Australian dairy industry claimed it would sustain tens of millions of dollars in losses and was gearing up to fight the decision.

The EU system of Geographical Indications legally requires certain product names to be made in a specific location or method.

Some wines, olive oils, beers, cheeses and sausages are examples of the types of products included in the system.

Australian Dairy Industry Council Chair Terry Richardson said the EU had already brought up issues about various cheese names with Aussie farmers, the Daily Mail.

“Now they have opened up the possibility of adding to that list once the agreement is finalised and it is simply going too far,” Richardson was quoted as saying.

The report said Australia is in negotiations with the EU over a free trade agreement that would set out rules for streamlining trade between the regions.

The EU is Australia’s fourth-biggest trading partner.

“We need to prevent this FTA from allowing the EU to take over our cheese names,” Richardson said.

Richardson argued that halloumi referred to a type of cheese and not one that is unique to a region.

“The origin of the cheese is irrelevant because the name is generic and associated not with the region in Cyprus, but with a certain taste, texture, and functionality,” he said.

The EU is demanding Australia adopt the Geographical Indications system under the free trade agreement.

Halloumi is not currently listed but Tuesday’s ruling could set a precedent that more products could be added after the deal is in effect.