According to a European Commission spokesperson, halloumi which enjoys a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, is not included in the current text of the EU-Australia free trade agreement announced on March 24, 2026, because “the geographical indication (GI) ‘Halloumi’ was not part of the EU’s original list for protection in Australia, which was drawn up in 2019.”
The spokesperson explained that, “Halloumi only received EU‑wide GI protection in 2021 and therefore could not have been included in that initial list.”
Responding to questions posed by CNA, the Commission stressed that the agreement includes a mechanism allowing for future expansion of protection. “The agreement contains provisions enabling the parties to amend the initial list in order to add additional geographical indications after its entry into force and following the appropriate procedure,” the spokesperson said.
Such additions may be discussed in future talks between the EU and Australia on the free trade agreement, although no fixed timetable has been set.
Based on these provisions, the possibility of incorporating halloumi into the agreement’s GI protection framework remains open, with the Commission reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding authentic production while concluding trade agreements.
Source: CNA