The "Cyprus Mark" is being created to highlight local products.

Cyprus is preparing the "Cyprus Mark," a label designed to increase the recognition of local products and highlight their connection to the island, tradition, and local raw materials. Minister of Agriculture Christos Senekis announced that work has entered its final stages.

The date of the label's introduction and the detailed rules for its awarding have not yet been announced. During his speech at the Athienou Products Festival, the minister also spoke about support for farmers and the expected EU registration of bread and loaves from the town in 2027.

The Cyprus Mark is intended to help people recognize local products.

The aim of the label is to more clearly demonstrate the connection between products and Cypriot soil, tradition, and local raw materials. It will support producers in promoting their products and help buyers recognize local offerings.

However, the detailed criteria will be crucial. The announcement itself does not indicate what share of Cypriot raw materials will be required, what stages of production should take place on the island or how the use of the mark will be controlled.

The information presented also does not provide the appearance of the marking or the date when the first products covered by the program will be available. Therefore, for now, we should speak of a solution being prepared, not an existing certification system.

Local products

Two different ways to differentiate products

"Cyprus Sign"

A label promoting the products' connection to Cyprus, tradition, and local raw materials is being prepared. Detailed rules have yet to be presented.

EU geographical protection

A separate procedure is in place for bread and lokum from Athienou. Their registration as Protected Geographical Indications is expected in 2027.

The announcement of a national designation does not mean that the product will be granted EU protection of the name.

Bread and lodging from Athienou await protection

The Minister informed that European registration bread from Athienou and the local lodging as Protected Geographical Indications is expected in 2027.

This is a separate matter from the development of the "Cyprus Mark." EU protection applies to specific product names and the rules for their production, not to the general marking of all products originating in a given country.

The announced deadline remains the authorities' expectation. These products should not be presented as already registered, nor should 2027 be considered a guaranteed completion date.

For Athienou, this would be another tool for promoting local culinary traditions. The eighth pan-Cyprus festival, during which the announcements were made, was dedicated to local products.

Two sources of support for farmers

In his speech, the minister also referred to the higher costs of running farms and the effects of unfavorable weather conditions.

He pointed €2.5 million for targeted national actions, intended to mitigate the increase in production costs. Separately, he announced the acquisition €4.6 million in additional European funding for farmers affected by unfavorable climatic conditions in 2025.

In total, this gives 7.1 million euros, but these are two parts of the support with different goals. This is not a budget intended to create a new product label.

Larger budget for small investments

Information was also provided about the increase in the budget of the small agricultural investment program. from 10 to 12.7 million eurosAccording to the report, this allowed all applications meeting the required conditions to be accepted.

This is a separate instrument for supporting farms. Its entire budget should not be added to the amount of aid related to increased costs and climate losses.

For producers, promoting local products and investing in farms can complement each other. However, the effectiveness of the "Cyprus Label" will primarily depend on clear requirements, reliable controls, and recognition of the label among buyers.

We still have to wait for details about its awarding and the start of the program.

Sources: RIK, SigmaLive, Larnaka Online.