Cyprus' Cheese Gets Protection from the European Union
2021-04-11
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1The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is now the only country that can sell its famous halloumi cheese in the European Union.
2Halloumi is a cheese made from goat, sheep and cow's milk.
3It is salty, feels like rubber and is usually cooked: fried or grilled.
4Halloumi is very popular in Europe and around the world.
5Yearly cheese exports are worth at least $267 million.
6Farmers call the cheese "white gold."
7Because of this popularity, foreign cheese makers have tried to sell their own cheese using the halloumi name.
8Cypriots argue that foreign producers' halloumi is inauthentic.
9But later this month, the European Union is recognizing halloumi with its Protected Destination of Origin (PDO).
10This means only Cypriot producers will be able to market the cheese in Europe under the halloumi name.
11Cyprus is involved in 80 court cases against foreign producers who call their cheese "halloumi."
12George Petrou oversees Petrou Bros. Dairy Products.
13The company makes about 25 percent of Cyprus' halloumi exports.
14He says the cheese is a Cypriot invention that dates back to 1500.
15"Unfortunately in recent years many countries tried to copy us," he said.
16Using the halloumi name for other kinds of cheese "misleads consumers," he added.
17Starting in 2024, at least half of the cheese will need to be goat and sheep's milk.
18The rest can be cow's milk.
19The EU registration permits the northern part of Cyprus to export its halloumi, or "hellim" in Turkish, to Europe.
20Northern Cyprus is ethnically Turkish and has had a separate government since 1974.
21Turkey is the only country in the world to recognize Northern Cyprus.
22Before the PDO, Northern Cypriot producers could only export hellim to Turkey.
23Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades praised the agreement as "historic."
24He said the agreement gives the country an economic boost that will help both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
25He added, "It's a strong message...that I'm sending to Turkish Cypriots about all the benefits we can reap from the protections that the European Union can offer."
26I'm Jonathan Evans.
1The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is now the only country that can sell its famous halloumi cheese in the European Union. 2Halloumi is a cheese made from goat, sheep and cow's milk. It is salty, feels like rubber and is usually cooked: fried or grilled. 3Halloumi is very popular in Europe and around the world. Yearly cheese exports are worth at least $267 million. Farmers call the cheese "white gold." 4Because of this popularity, foreign cheese makers have tried to sell their own cheese using the halloumi name. Cypriots argue that foreign producers' halloumi is inauthentic. 5But later this month, the European Union is recognizing halloumi with its Protected Destination of Origin (PDO). This means only Cypriot producers will be able to market the cheese in Europe under the halloumi name. Cyprus is involved in 80 court cases against foreign producers who call their cheese "halloumi." 6George Petrou oversees Petrou Bros. Dairy Products. The company makes about 25 percent of Cyprus' halloumi exports. He says the cheese is a Cypriot invention that dates back to 1500. 7"Unfortunately in recent years many countries tried to copy us," he said. Using the halloumi name for other kinds of cheese "misleads consumers," he added. 8Starting in 2024, at least half of the cheese will need to be goat and sheep's milk. The rest can be cow's milk. 9The EU registration permits the northern part of Cyprus to export its halloumi, or "hellim" in Turkish, to Europe. Northern Cyprus is ethnically Turkish and has had a separate government since 1974. Turkey is the only country in the world to recognize Northern Cyprus. Before the PDO, Northern Cypriot producers could only export hellim to Turkey. 10Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades praised the agreement as "historic." He said the agreement gives the country an economic boost that will help both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. 11He added, "It's a strong message...that I'm sending to Turkish Cypriots about all the benefits we can reap from the protections that the European Union can offer." 12I'm Jonathan Evans. 13Menelaos Hadjicostis reported this story for the Associated Press and Michele Kambas reported this story for Reuters. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. 14_______________________________________________________ 15Words in This Story 16inauthentic- adj. - not real, accurate, or sincere : not authentic 17origin- n. the point or place where something begins or is created 18mislead- n. to cause (someone) to believe something that is not true 19consumer- n. a person who buys goods and services 20boost v. to increase the force, power, or amount of (something) 21benefit- n. - a good or helpful result or effect 22reap- v. to get (something, such as a reward) as a result of something that you have done