Efforts to begin exporting Hellim (Halloumi) to the European Union under the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) programme are advancing rapidly, with key steps underway to meet necessary health and quality standards.
Selçuk Yürükoğulları, Head of the European Union Coordination Centre under the TRNC Prime Ministry, announced that the institution responsible for health inspections is expected to be appointed within two months.
Once the appointment is made, health inspections will commence, paving the way for PDO-certified Hellim exports.
The PDO programme ensures that only Hellim produced using traditional methods in Cyprus can be marketed under the “Hellim” name.
This protection prohibits imitation products and is anticipated to deliver significant economic benefits to the TRNC.
In his statement, Yürükoğulları explained that for PDO-certified Hellim exports, production facilities and farms must meet EU health standards.
Certification processes for these facilities and farms have begun, but health inspections have been delayed due to the absence of an appointed organization.brt
