The opinion of the Legal Service clarifies that the product with the name halloumi is the one that meets the specifications of the European regulation, which registered the well-known Cypriot delicacy as a product of protected designation of origin (PDO), Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis told the Cyprus News Agency, noting that products that do not meet these specifications cannot bear the name halloumi.
At the same time, Kadis said that issues such as the possible establishment of a transitional period, what happens to halloumi marketed under the trademark and the controls on the product specifications will be examined at a meeting today with the Legal Service and the Minister of Commerce, as well as at a meeting to be convened in the coming days by the President of the Republic with all stakeholders.
According to Mr. Kadis, the 23-page opinion of the Legal Service, which runs to 23 pages, has as its "general conclusion that the product bearing the name halloumi must meet the requirements of the European regulation, which recently registered the product as a PDO".
"Everyone must realize that the product called halloumi is one, the one with the PDO specifications and adapt to this reality and that anything else produced that does not have these specifications cannot bear the name halloumi," Kadis told CNA, explaining that "producers will be able to market it but not with the name halloumi."
Regarding the audits of the certification body, Bureau Veritas, Mr. Kadis said that Bureau Veritas is already carrying out checks for the PDO, while all other products that were marketed under the trademark were checked by the Ministry of Commerce, adding that the next steps in relation to the checks will be discussed in the meeting with the Legal Service and the Ministry of Commerce "so that we are all on the same page and on the same wavelength".
He pointed out, however, that since halloumi is a product can be with the specific characteristics, our intention is to control the production of the product in the same way that Bureau Veritas controls the PDO.
"That is," he explained, "to have an international organisation with a great deal of experience in this matter, from the farm to the dairy, control the whole process of production of the product, so that there is not the slightest doubt that this product meets the specifications set by this regulation, which is not only about the milk quota, but a series of other characteristics that the product must meet."
He added that in the meeting with the Minister of Commerce and the Legal Service, "we will discuss how we handle some products that by definition and by opinion cannot bear the name halloumi."
"Whether we will be given a transitional period or we will proceed with some drastic measures, whether we will proceed to change the labels, are options that will be considered and I cannot tell you at this moment," he added.
Regarding the reactions of the cheese makers, the Agriculture Minister said that in the first instance they will be informed of the opinion of the Legal Service "and we will ask them to adapt to the opinion", while the issue will be discussed at a meeting that the President intends to convene in the next few days.
"So, I believe that as to what is the product called halloumi is a matter that the Legal Service is fully clarifying. As to how we will implement in practice the result of this opinion is a matter that will be clarified immediately in the next few days after today's meeting that we will have with the Legal Service and the Minister of Commerce and after the meeting that the President of the Republic will have with all the stakeholders," he concluded.
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