After a long period of inaction, without substantial steps to increase the percentage of goat’s and sheep’s milk in halloumi, we expected the current government to learn from its mistakes.
Unfortunately, following its decision to issue a new decree for only one year, the gift from Brussels for a five-year extension of the transition period to take all necessary actions for goat’s and sheep’s milk to prevail over cow’s milk in halloumi production is wasted.
Essentially, with this decision, the government satisfies 10 large businesses with an annual turnover of 300 million euros and 250 cow farmers, leaving 2,000 goat and sheep farmers’ families dissatisfied.
Most importantly, with this decision, the government jeopardises the entire halloumi production industry and devalues the great achievement of certifying the product as a PDO, an achievement in which President Christodoulides himself had a share, serving as Foreign Minister at the time.
This decision is catastrophic for halloumi, since, beyond the low quota set for the dry season, the duration of the new decree for only one year proves that the government does not heed the signs of the times, nor even the decisions of European courts and the tough battles the Legal Service continues to fight against the interests currently served by this decision.
The decision is interpreted as another 12 lost months for adapting to the quotas specified in the executive regulation for PDO halloumi (50%+ goat’s and sheep’s milk by July 2029).
We have reached an extremely critical point regarding our national product, halloumi. Dozens of meetings have taken place since halloumi was certified as a PDO. All stakeholders’ views have been heard and considered. All parameters have been carefully examined.
The decision represents a massive step backward. In 12 months from now, the government will begin a new meaningless consultation with all stakeholders on halloumi production to set new minimum quotas for goat’s and sheep’s milk for Cyprus’ national product.
In 12 months, however, only four years will remain for full adaptation. Essentially, we are losing an entire year.
If they truly cared about the “weak” and the poor, what the government should have done after amending the EU Regulation for extending the transition period for cow’s and goat’s and sheep’s milk quotas until 2029, was to announce a percentage increase in the participation of goat’s and sheep’s milk in the halloumi mixture by 5% per year over a five-year horizon, so that by 2029 goat’s and sheep’s milk would finally prevail over cow’s milk.
Just a few days ago, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, the State General Laboratory, the Cyprus University of Technology, and the Department of Agriculture signed an agreement to collaborate and implement a research project aimed at certifying a scientific method for detecting the use of milk powder or/and the use of fresh milk not produced in Cyprus.
The research programme is expected to be completed in 18 months. With its completion, we will finally be able to know how much milk powder is used in halloumi production.
Today, the particularly high producer price of fresh cow’s milk in Cyprus (€0.64/litre) compared to the average prevailing producer price in the European Union (€0.49/litre) results in the use of milk powder for halloumi production.
Analysis of the data showed that of the 44,200 tonnes of halloumi produced in 2022, a large quantity of the halloumi produced, about 7,000 tonnes, was not justified by the declared quantity of milk, indicating the use of milk powder in the product or/and other irregularities, such as the import of “white grilling cheeses” and their re-export as “halloumi”.
The government’s decision to proceed with reducing the minimum use of goat’s and sheep’s milk to 15% from the 19% that was its declared intention last week, in its attempt to exclusively satisfy cheese producers with easy access to the Presidential Palace, is also characterised as wrong.
Essentially, the government reverses its previous positions. To the question raised by the cheese producers regarding the non-removal of the quantities of goat’s and sheep’s milk used exclusively for the production of goat’s and sheep’s halloumi from the available milk, it is noted that 100% goat’s and sheep’s halloumi cannot be differentiated from “mixed” halloumi, since it is essentially the same product, PDO halloumi. If the allegedly used quantities of goat’s and sheep’s milk exclusively for the production of goat’s and sheep’s halloumi are removed, then there is no way we can achieve the increase in goat’s and sheep’s milk to the quantities required in 2029 for product production.
Additionally, the decision to set quotas for another year only, instead of setting percentages for the annual increase of goat’s and sheep’s milk aiming to rise to 50+% by 2029, complicates the business environment that wishes to invest in the sector, as it sees no stable prospect.
With this decision, there is no way the quantities of goat’s and sheep’s milk will increase by 2029 to the levels required by the European regulation. And why is that? So as not to hurt big interests!
So that not all who are entitled share the pie of over 300 million euros, but only the few… Shame…
