Question: Will we finally undo what we have enshrined and ask the European Commission to change the quota?
Answer:I will comment on the ongoing dialogue and not on the substance, since we have asked all stakeholders to refrain from making public statements that may not facilitate this dialogue. At the same time, I also regret that various actors and individuals, without knowing the context in which this dialogue is taking place, are positioning themselves in the way they are.
As the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, we have had to deal with specific data on this issue. The first given is that as of October 1, 2021, PDO halloumi should be produced from October 1, 2021. However, apart from some exceptions of small cheese dairies, cheese makers did not enter the process of producing PDO halloumi, stepping, I would say, on legal interpretations, according to which they consider that they can send product with the name "halloumi" abroad, marketing it on the basis of a trademark, which was in force before the filing of the application for the PDO.
I must also tell you, because some people say that we do not carry out checks, that we do carry out checks and indeed when it was found that there was no production of PDO halloumi, we sent warning letters to the cheese makers and received the reply that "we consider that we can market the product under the trademark, based on a specific EU Regulation". There is indeed a Regulation but I don't want to get into the legal interpretation of it. However, for it to apply, certain conditions must apply.
Question: What does the European Commission say about this?
Answer: But what do we want a PDO for when they have this possibility?
Answer. Our assessment is that the trademark is much more vulnerable and that is why we wanted it to be marketed under the PDO, based on the characteristics of the file.
Question: Can this be done on a long-term basis or is this a temporary tolerance by the European Commission?
Answer:There are very specific conditions for this to be done. If these conditions apply, then the trademark and registration under the PDO can be used at the same time.
Question: So we will have halloumi that is PDO and halloumi that is not PDO?
Answer:This can only be the case if there is no confusion for the consumer and is one of the basic conditions set by the European Union for the use of the trademark. But we have a first assumption that cheese makers are stepping on a legal interpretation and not producing a PDO. The second assumption we have before us is that amendments can be made to PDO product files, let alone for a product that has been in the European Commission's cupboards for 7 years. So, after enough time has passed, it is justified to ask for some amendments, which may be either minor or may require further examination. Specific suggestions for amendments have already been requested from all parties involved (cheese dairy farmers, sheep and goat farmers, cow farmers).
Taking all these facts into account, as the Ministry we had the choice to invite all stakeholders to a dialogue in order to find commonly accepted solutions so that the production of PDO halloumi, which gives maximum protection to our product, can begin immediately and en masse. The other option was to rest on the 'laurels of successful registration' but without producing PDOs and chasing the cheesemakers in a long process that will be decided in the courts.
Against this background, and bearing these facts in mind, we opted for option 1 and started a dialogue, bringing all the parties involved (farmers' organisations, cheese-makers, cattle farmers, sheep and goat farmers) together and setting down certain principles, which, I must tell you, everyone has accepted. On the basis of these principles, which I will mention below, there is a structured dialogue:
- Under no circumstances must the reputation of the product or the protection of its name be jeopardised by imitation products.
- Reaching an agreement also means withdrawing all legal measures.
- The viability of sheep and goat farmers must be ensured.
- We must maintain the dynamics of the product. [ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO THE MILK QUOTA, WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE WANT. SOME VARIATION CAN BE ACCEPTED BY THE EU AND WILL APPLY FROM 2024.
Our proposal originally was that the quota should be a bit below 50-50. A number of alternatives were put forward in the debate. I had made it clear to those present that below the specific threshold that I had personally set (I cannot disclose numbers at this time) is too risky and I see it very, very difficult to get through the European Commission. These are the facts. At the moment the dialogue is going on and it is desirable to get to a point where everybody agrees.
Question: What if cheese makers continue to sell what they make under the brand name?
Answer:In that case the issue will be resolved in the courts. I believe that within the week the matter will be resolved, one way or the other.
Question: What about the asphalt? Is it a given that they are being moved to the areas where residents are protesting?
Answer. I cannot anticipate the decisions of the environmental authority, but it is estimated that this will be done very soon. Already within the week public presentations are being made for transparency purposes in both Mitzera and Calabasas. Following these presentations, the relevant Environment Department committee will meet to give its opinion and then, if the studies show that there is no problem for the health and well-being of people in the authority areas, the planning permission, leasing and relocation procedures will proceed. The procedural part for the commencement of the move is expected to be completed in March, in line with the assurances given by the various agencies to the President at a meeting held at the Presidential Palace.
(MAK/NG/SX)
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