Solutions to satisfy all sides on the issue of halalouli are being sought by the Minister of Agriculture. In particular, the coexistence of steel flour produced under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) that Cyprus has registered with the European Union and steel flour produced under the trademark that some producers held before the registration of the dossier is being promoted.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture which examined the issue, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis stressed, however, that under no circumstances do they want PDO and trademarked halloumi to coexist on the same shelf and create confusion among consumers. He clarified that products that cannot be included in the PDO such as light halloumi and chilli halloumi will be marketed under the trademark and that marketing under the trademark should be done under certain conditions. He added that the halloumi under the trademark would, he said, be able to bear the name and characteristics of the halloumi.
He also noted that any solution would have to be legally valid and said that Commission case law in other cases had allowed the co-existence of a pre-existing trademark and a PDO, but any solution would have to go through the EU.
In Cyprus, he said, the trademark has been registered by the steel mill foundation, while if there are other cases abroad that hold the trademark, these are individual cases. He also said that the market share held by those products that will be marketed under the trademark is less than 10%.
At the same time, the Legal Service, which was asked about this in the Parliamentary Committee, said that it is studying the issue of the coexistence of the PDO and the trademark and that the answer to this question is not easy.
Close to an agreement on changes to the dossier on halloumi
At the same time, the Minister said that they are in discussion with stakeholders to promote changes to the dossier on halloumi to the European Commission, in relation to the quota, the breeds of animals that will produce the milk for halloumi, the moisture content, the shape and weight of the halloumi, expressing confidence that most of the changes can be accepted by the EU.
He spoke of intensive consultations with stakeholders on the issue to reach a conclusion and now start mass production of PDO halloumi and said they were close to an agreement.
The solutions he said should be based on some principles which include maintaining the importance of the registration, withdrawing all legal measures taken against the registration of the product as a PDO, utilising the possibilities offered by trademarks, ensuring the viability of disadvantaged sheep and goat farmers, preserving the existing customer base so that Cyprus does not lose exports, agreeing to the amendments to be put forward in Brussels and strictly implementing the agreed solution. He added that for this purpose there are considerations to set up a supervisory mechanism to control the production of steel mills with the participation of all stakeholders.
At the same time, Mr. Kadis said that the government wants to support all stakeholders to find a solution and could contribute, for example, to the issue of the sustainability of sheep and goat farmers.
Regarding the quota, he said that the solution should not be seen as a picture of today, but where we want to be in 2024.
At the same time he expressed the desire to have a clear solution and said that there is a bright future for the traditional product of Cyprus if everyone makes concessions, while if everyone sticks to their original positions the consequences will be very negative.
Regarding support for producers and because of the increase in the price of feed, he said that everyone got support, the goat and sheep farmers in December and the rest of the farmers will get it in the next period. This, he said, has been allowed by the EU because of the pandemic, as normally the market has to function and the cost of the increase has to be shared.
Producers seek support
Producer groups and farmers' organisations who attended the committee noted the need for support from the government because of the heavy losses suffered from the pandemic and the international increase in feed prices.
On behalf of the sheep and goat farmers, it was requested that the Government should be given assistance whether or not they agree to the changes in the halal envelope and that the issue of support should not be raised by blackmail. Disappointment was also expressed that despite the registration of hallemu, production based on the standard has not yet begun.
Support was also requested by cow farmers, citing that feed prices have doubled for them as well, while they were in favour of the co-existence of a trademark and a PDO.
From the Cheese Makers' Association, George Petrou called for no milk to be spilled by any producer and for future export prospects not to be lost. He asked for the support of the cheese makers so that they can in turn support the farmers.
Farmers' organisations apart from the need to support the producers especially after the big increases in grain prices, asked that any agreement reached on the PDO should be based on the principles and values that govern it as well as on the laws of the EU and the Republic of Cyprus. Some organisations expressed concern about the Minister's proposal to create two categories of halalumi at a time when the Legal Service has not yet prepared an answer on the issue.
Statements by MPs
In his statements after the end of the Committee, the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, AKEL MP Giannakis Gavriel expressed concern about what the Minister said, stating that in the end we will not have PDO halloumi, because when it is on the same shelf with the branded halloumi, unfortunately the foreigner will not be able to distinguish it. He also sounded the alarm about whether what the Minister told them would be valid. He added that the branded halloumi will be half the price of the PDO halloumi. He added that any agreement between the ministry and the parties involved must be legal and expressed concern that the Legal Department was not even able to respond around the issue. He also said that any agreement made between the ministry and stakeholders would have to go through Parliament for the new standard to be legally enshrined.
Meanwhile, he said the Ministry of Agriculture had no plans to support farmers and cheese makers and said the market would determine the framework. He expressed the view that without support for the sectors, no PDO halloumi is produced, especially as the increase in grain prices with milk remaining at the same prices have led to farmers not being able to afford even one more day.
He appealed to the Minister to find immediate solutions so that halloumi can continue to be Cyprus' second export product as a PDO.
DISY MP Haralambos Pazaros said that the registration of haloumi was a great achievement of the Government, when many considered the registration of Cypriot haloumi unfeasible due to third party interests and other political expediencies.
Regarding the problems with the marketing of haloumi as a PDO, he said that appropriate solutions would be discussed with the relevant authorities, so that the product would receive the protection it deserves. He added that measures to support the producers of haloumi have been discussed and will be worked on, especially in terms of ensuring the viability of sheep and goat farmers and cow farmers.
"We are close to an agreement on the quota and other outstanding issues, an agreement that will benefit all parties involved and the local economy. I call on everyone to show the spirit of goodwill to conclude the agreement," he said
He assured that DISY stands by the producers, noting that the PDO status will bring economic benefits to the country and producers of haloumi and will not allow any exploitation.
Source: KYPE
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