The European Commission clarified that halloumi is not included in the current text of the EU–Australia free-trade agreement announced on 24 March.
According to the Commission, the initial geographical-indications list was prepared in 2019, while halloumi obtained EU-level registration in 2021 and therefore was not part of that original package.
Brussels nevertheless stresses that the agreement contains a mechanism allowing the list to be amended after entry into force, with additional geographical indications added through due process.
This means halloumi’s possible inclusion under the protection framework in the Australian market remains open for future bilateral talks.
