Halloumi PDO in danger say MPs

Ministries are working to stall the implementation of the halloumi PDO, an MP said on Tuesday after the cheese and its PDO were discussed at the House agriculture committee on Tuesday.

Committee chair and Akel MP Yiannakis Gavriel said that the ministries of commerce and agriculture are helping to serve specific financial interests to prevent the implementation of the PDO regulations.

The lack of audits on halloumi producers by the ministry of commerce shows the government’s political decision to support these interests, which is why there are delays in the implementation of the legislation, he said.

Halloumi is the only product whose production costs are not passed on to the consumer, he added.

“Whatever is happening now with halloumi, is it or is it not a monopoly?” he asked, expressing the hope that checks will increase, and that the standards set by EU regulations and Cypriot legislation will be followed.

Otherwise, “we will lose our white gold – as we call halloumi – and everyone will have to take responsibility,” Gavriel said.

Disy MP Charalambos Pazaros called on everyone involved to work together and agree on a formula that will comply with the conditions laid down by the European Commission.

“It is up to us to protect halloumi as our national product,” he said. “It is a pity to lose what we have gained so far because our organisations cannot agree and comply with the criteria that have been set”.