Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman has proposed creating a bicommunal technical committee on halloumi, saying the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to cooperate with the republic on agriculture and livestock issues as foot-and-mouth disease spreads.
Call for cooperation on halloumi and livestock risks
In a written statement on social media on Saturday, Erhurman said the initiative would help manage risks affecting livestock production and protect the future of the island’s most important dairy product.
He also urged the republic to proceed with the signatures required to allow inspections in the north linked to the protected designation of origin framework for halloumi.
“We want to be inspected,” he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side had expected the process to begin by January 31 but had seen no progress.
Erhurman said cooperation between the two communities was essential to protect the cheese’s status and the wider agricultural sector.
Outbreak response and epidemiological concerns
His statement came as the island faces a serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease affecting livestock units in government-controlled areas.
Veterinary services confirmed that the virus detected in farms in the Republic is the same serotype circulating in the north, raising concerns that the outbreak is epidemiologically connected.
Authorities have culled more than 13,000 animals across affected farms, while emergency vaccinations and strict movement controls are being implemented to contain the highly contagious disease.
Vaccinations and references to the north
Erhurman said he was closely following developments and argued that references by the government to the north should not distract from practical cooperation.
He said timely vaccinations had been carried out in the Turkish Cypriot community and claimed that vaccines had also been supplied to government-controlled areas when needed.
How should the two communities coordinate inspections and disease control measures to protect halloumi production?
