The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment welcomes today’s decision of the General Court of the European Union, by which the appeal for the annulment of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/591 of the Commission, dated 12th April 2021, for the registration of a name in the Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications [“Χαλλούμι”/”Halloumi”/”Hellim” (PDO)] was rejected.
The next significant milestone is the publication of the new European Regulation on Geographical Indications, expected next March, which provides for the possibility of extending the transitional period by five years for the implementation of the product production specifications.
As announced on January 26, 2024, during the next period, the President of the Republic will convene a meeting in the presence of all stakeholders in the halloumi production sector (cheese-makers, cattle breeders, goat breeders), where the Government’s decisions will be announced.
“We continue the hard work, based on the implementation of the Governance Program, with actions aimed at the protection and promotion of PDO halloumi and the intensification of certification checks for the authenticity of the produced PDO halloumi, as defined by the specifications approved by the EU. We proceed with the formation of the Interdisciplinary Committee, with the participation of all stakeholders, as well as the creation of software for measuring the quantity of goat milk,” stated a press release by the Ministry of Agriculture.
It is noted that regarding the minimum ratio of goat and sheep milk in the raw materials used for the production of halloumi, the relevant Decree of the Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry (Κ.Δ.Π 35/2024) is in force, which sets the quotas as follows:
a) For the period between January 31 and February 21, 2024, inclusive, at 19%.
b) For the period between February 22, 2024 and July 9, 2024 inclusive, at 25%.
