Cow farmers dismiss calls for halloumi meeting

Cow breeders on Thursday said a meeting called by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou to discuss halloumi production incentives is unnecessary.

In an announcement, cow breeders said the meeting, slated for July 16, was unnecessary since the minister did not invite them during the formulation of her positions on halloumi production.

In a reply to Panayiotou, the cow farmers said they disagree with the latest measures.

“Since you have not felt the need to invite us to formulate your positions, any meetings with cow farmers’ delegations on this matter are considered unnecessary,” the cow breeders said.

On the contrary, in their letter, which was made public, they stated that “we consider it very important that you and your staff should inform all cow farmers in private”.

They also ask for information on when the production of hellim/halloumi in Germany where it is produced under a trademark which is pre-exists Cyprus’ PDO registration will be stopped and how the ministry will control the Halloumi/Hellim produced in the north with EU subsidies, without being PDO and which is exported to third countries.

The cow farmers also note that they will not hold any protest demonstrations before the minister informs the cow farmers of the measures and policy that the government intends to implement in their sector.