The new developments arising from the five-year transitional period for the production of Halloumi with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, which allows for lower minimum percentages of goat and sheep milk than originally stipulated, provide the Ministry of Agriculture the opportunity to act so that by 2029, the mixture contains less cow’s milk.
However, the initial steps do not indicate that this goal will be achieved, given that the minimum usage during the dry period did not even increase by 1%. One would have expected that after an unproductive ten-year transitional period, more drastic decisions would be made to support the product, enabling a gradual increase in the minimum use of goat and sheep milk.
Nevertheless, the decree under discussion, which is to be in effect for one year, does not offer this prospect. At the very least, the first year should not go to waste, and incentives should be provided with specific support measures for producers of goat and sheep milk.
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