Cypriot halloumi that did not meet the requirements of the standard and violated the regulations governing the use of the relevant trademarks were identified by the trade advisors of the Ministry of Commerce in supermarkets in the United Kingdom and Germany as well as at an international food fair! As revealed through a reply letter of the ministry to the chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Parliament Mr. Giannakis Gabriel, dated 29/4/2022, the inspections abroad were carried out in the year 2021 and revealed 51 possible violations of the standard by eight Cypriot companies. – dairies), which were referred to the competent Tripartite Committee of the ministry for accountability. The Committee is headed by the Director General of the Ministry and includes the Directors of Competition and Consumer Protection and Industrial Development of the Ministry. The Tripartite Committee may impose an administrative fine of up to € 150,000 for each violation.
What the audits showed
Therefore, according to the letter of the Ministry of Commerce in the Parliament, during these inspections abroad by the trade advisors, a number of products originating from Cypriot producers were identified which did not meet at first sight the specifications of the standard for halloumi and the regulations governing the use of the relevant trademarks. These products were called “HALLOUMI”, but contained impurities other than those specified in the halloumi standard. These cases were found in supermarkets in the United Kingdom and Germany and at an international food fair held in Germany. From the audits abroad, 44 possible violations of the standard were forwarded to the Tripartite Committee, which concern six companies. For another 11 samples, a decision of the Tripartite Committee is pending. Specifically, 51 samples of possible infringement by five companies were identified in the UK market, while the remaining four samples of possible infringement concern three companies. According to the register of approved halloumi producers, in the year 2021, a total of 31 natural and legal persons were active in the sale of halloumi abroad.
Controls for halloumi in foreign markets aim at the following:
- First, to identify non-Cypriot products that infringe the halloumi trademarks. Σ & # 8217; legal action is taken in these cases.
- Second, in the identification of products of Cypriot origin which violate the standard and the relevant trademarks for halloumi. These cases are referred to the competent Tripartite Committee of the Ministry of Commerce for its own actions. are visible to the naked eye. Controls focus on product labeling, such as origin, ingredients, additives, name, etc. and their physiognomic characteristics, such as shape, color, appearance, etc.
No home control
In its letter to Parliament, the Ministry of Commerce admits that in the year 2021 it did not proceed with domestic audits for halloumi. This fact is attributed to the consultations of the Ministry of Agriculture with the bodies involved in the production and export chain of halloumi in order to smoothly implement the PDO (protected designation of origin) standards with parallel validity of the trademarks, as well as the intensive efforts made for where some of the halloumi specifications, including the milk quota, could be modified.
Three times changed
, in the last decade they changed three times with ministerial decrees as follows:
On 21/8/2012 a relevant decree was issued by the then Minister of Commerce Mr. Neoklis Silikiotis with which, for the period of July & # 8211; November the minimum ratio of raw or sheep milk or a mixture of them was set at 23% and for the period December-June at 35%.
On 9/7/2014 the former Minister of Commerce Mr. George Lakkotrypis issued a decree specifying the minimum ratio to 20% for the whole year.
On 13/1/2021 the Minister of Commerce Mrs. Natasa Pileidou issued a decree, according to which for the period January & # 8211; In August the minimum proportion of raw or sheep milk or a mixture thereof was set at 25% and for the period September & # 8211; December at 20%.
Source: politis.com.cy
