Risks to Halloumi Due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Policy Challenges
March 11, 2026
Cyprus faces the risk of being excluded from the Single Market if it unilaterally stops the culling of animals due to foot-and-mouth disease, warns the Minister of Agriculture. This exclusion would not only affect dairy products but also human movement and the tourism sector. The government is trying to secure flexible arrangements from the European Commission to avoid mass culling. The future of halloumi depends on the Commission's response. Agricultural organizations are calling for a halt to culling and vaccination of animals.