Arden Gıda Receives PDO Certification
Turkish Cypriot Halloumi Producers Eligible for PDO Certification
Arden Gıda, a halloumi producer from north Cyprus, has been granted the Protected Name of Origin (PDO) certificate under the EU quality program. This news was announced by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), which congratulated Arden Gıda and its employees for the achievement.
The statement from the Chamber of Commerce highlights the efforts made by all relevant stakeholders in securing the PDO certification, with the ultimate goal of enabling Turkish Cypriot halloumi producers to enter the EU common market. This requires compliance with EU quality and hygiene standards, which the Chamber is working actively to establish.
The registration of Halloumi/Halloumi as a Name of Origin protected product means that it can only be produced in Cyprus within the EU, providing a net economic benefit to the entire island. This move is expected to increase profitability and sustainability throughout the halloumi production chain, and contribute to economic cooperation between the two communities.
Despite the challenges faced during the registration process, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has been supporting the EU registration of halloumi from the very beginning. With this development, it is hoped that other halloumi producers in northern Cyprus will also obtain PDO certification.
The Chamber’s efforts to establish the necessary mechanism for inspection of health and hygiene standards, and to ensure the production of halloumi to EU quality and standards, are ongoing. This is a significant step towards the economic development of northern Cyprus and the cooperation between the two communities.
