The cheese production situation is under control, says Michalis Koullouros from the Cheesemakers Association. The traditional product is safe for both export and consumption, with no risk of disease from dairy products.
In a statement to the Cyprus News Agency, Koullouros assured that foot-and-mouth disease is manageable for cheese production, as long as the virus doesn’t spread further. He stressed that there are no issues with dairy exports or consumption since halloumi is safe due to its second boiling process, which prevents disease transmission.
He also mentioned that concerns about exports to Australia were resolved by issuing an extra certificate with veterinary services.
The main worry is the number of animal deaths. If the virus spreads across Cyprus, it could lead to a big drop in milk supply, which directly impacts cheese production since 80% of the milk produced here is used for that. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact number of deaths that would signal a serious issue because milk production varies by animal and unit. The timing of the virus outbreak is unfortunate, as milk production usually peaks during this time. However, if transmission stays at current levels, the situation remains manageable.
Koullouros noted that there are no plans to change the timeline for implementing the PDO quota. The focus is on controlling the virus spread and helping farmers so production can return to normal levels through compensation and support measures.
