Commission supports Halloumi/Hellim production by the Turkish Cypriot community to build capacity for future trade through the Green Line

Today, the Commission’s Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community launched the EU-funded project to help in fully eradicating animal diseases that affect milk-producing livestock in the areas not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. 

€1 million will be mobilised to increase animal health and food safety helping the Turkish Cypriot community to meet the EU standards. Upon confirmed compliance, the Turkish Cypriot Community will be able to trade their Halloumi/Hellim across the Green Line for placement on the EU market as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

Under the project, 50,000 cattle and 325,000 sheep and goats will be tested for the last remaining relevant animal disease, brucellosis. Spot checks will be conducted to make sure that already eliminated diseases have not reappeared and Turkish Cypriot veterinarians will be trained to improve their capacity to test and monitor animal health. Finally, farmers will receive compensation for the culling of infected animals. 

On the basis of the Commission’s pan-Cypriot Halloumi/Hellim PDO scheme, which benefits both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot producers, the first PDO certificate for Turkish Cypriot Halloumi/Hellim was issued in March.

The Commission supports all relevant actors to meet the necessary prerequisites to fully benefit from the EU quality scheme. Thanks to these efforts, the first trade of PDO-compliant Halloumi/Hellim from the Turkish Cypriot community across the Green Line for placement on the EU market could take place before end of 2024.

For the period 2021-2024, €40 million have been earmarked under the Aid Programme to implement the Halloumi/Hellim PDO scheme in the Turkish Cypriot community.