ARADIPPOU — Cyprus is getting protected status for its prized halloumi, giving its producers the sole right to sell the rubbery cheese in the European Union (EU).
Later this month, the EU is set to formally give halloumi—or “hellim” in Turkish—the protected designation of origin (PDO) status, which will come into effect from October, according to Cyprus’ agriculture ministry.
The move reaffirms what the industry and state have said for years, said cheesemaker George Petrou, general manager of Petrou Bros. Dairy Products, which has about 25 percent of the nation’s export market: That halloumi is Cypriot, with historical accounts suggesting production as early as around 150…
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