The Ministry of Agriculture unveiled a revised ratio recipe for goat and sheep milk content in Halloumi cheese, aiming to comply with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) regulations while supporting livestock farmers.
The following percentages are established:
For the period from February 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the quota increases to 30%. In other words, an increase of +5% since the previous percentage was 25% (25%+5%).
During the seven-month period, the percentages stipulated in the 2023-2024 decrees are maintained.
Therefore, until August 31, 2024, the quota will be set at 25%.
For the dry season, there were two decrees, one decree setting the quota at 10% and a second at 19%. By utilising the existing quantitative data from the Department of Agriculture, the new percentage set is the average of these decrees, which is 15%.
It is noted that the new decree to be issued will be annual, and the average quota set by it (25%, 15%, 30%) is 23%, while the average quota of the 2023-2024 decrees (10%, 19%, 25%) was 18%. Thus, the new decree brings about a +5% increase and reduces the seasonality period to five months instead of six.
Benefits for livestock farmers
Goat and sheep farmers’ incentives will target infrastructure upgrades, genetic improvement, and increased production units to address seasonality challenges and encourage year-round production.
Dairy farmers will benefit from the measures that aim to limit further expansion of cow’s milk for Halloumi and encourage environmental footprint reduction in line with EU commitments.
Support Measures and Monitoring
A joint meeting with farmers on July 16 will discuss incentive details, including funding and tools.
Collaboration with Cyprus University of Technology, the State General Laboratory, and the Department of Agriculture will focus on research related to milk production and PDO enforcement.
Increased inspections will target violations of PDO regulations.
Export promotion efforts and tighter legislation are also planned.
A monthly monitoring group involving all stakeholders will track implementation.
Semi-annual progress reports will be submitted to the Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Minister to the President.
Annual meetings with stakeholders under the President will be held.
Minister Panayiotou’s statement
“We are leveraging the five-year transition period to support all stakeholders and maintain Halloumi PDO status,” said Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou. She added that “existing investments worth €50 million for goat and sheep farming are expected to provide significant additional milk supplies in the short term.”
For key goals to be reached, the following conditions must be met:
- Gradual increase in goat and sheep milk production with reduced seasonality.
- Limiting cow’s milk usage in Halloumi production.
- Enhanced inspections and stricter regulations.
- Strengthening data collection for goat and sheep milk production.
The launch of goat and sheep milk counting software in October 2024 is seen as a crucial step for data-driven quota decisions in the future.
Overall, the revised quota system and support measures aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of Halloumi PDO production while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders in the Cypriot cheese industry.
