The European Commission has clarified the status of halloumi’s protection under the EU-Australia trade agreement, announced on March 24, in response to a question from the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
According to a Commission spokesperson, halloumi is not included in the current version of the EU-Australia free trade agreement because the geographical indication (GI) for halloumi was not part of the original EU list for protection in Australia, which was drafted in 2019.
The spokesperson explained that halloumi was only protected at the EU level starting in 2021, which meant it could not be included in the initial list for the agreement.
However, the Commission highlighted that the agreement provides a mechanism for the future expansion of protection. “The agreement includes provisions that allow the parties to amend the initial list, enabling the addition of further geographical indications after the agreement comes into effect and through the proper procedure,” the spokesperson said. They clarified that this could occur in future discussions between the two parties, although no strict timeline has been set for such talks.
As a result, the possibility of halloumi being included in the trade agreement’s protection framework remains open for the future, with the Commission committed to protecting authentic production alongside the conclusion of trade agreements.
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