Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus said halloumi exports will continue without disruption after the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia confirmed they will not impose restrictions on the cheese despite an ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Assurances from importing countries
The assurances followed consultations between Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis and his counterparts in the three countries. Pipis said official confirmation was received that halloumi would remain exempt from import bans, even as broader precautionary measures apply to live animals and untreated animal products.
Scientific basis for exemption
Veterinary Services said the decision is grounded in scientific assessment of the production process. The service said halloumi’s characteristics, including high temperatures reached during production, render it practically sterile from the virus and safe for international trade.
Scope of measures and heat-treatment criteria
The three countries removed Cyprus from their lists of foot-and-mouth-free nations but exempted halloumi and other animal products subjected to heat treatment of at least 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.
EU guidance and outbreak response
The exemption mirrors EU guidance allowing similar heat-treated dairy products to circulate despite the outbreak. The reassurance came after outbreaks were confirmed in livestock units in the Larnaca district.
A European Commission spokesman said Cyprus has implemented measures required under EU legislation, including epidemiological investigations, laboratory testing and culling animals on affected farms. The Commission said it is dispatching a team of experts to Cyprus until Friday to provide scientific support and assist with contingency planning.
How do you think the exemption for heat-treated products will affect Cyprus’s dairy exports?