The Undersecretary at the Prime Ministry and head of the Prime Ministry EU Coordination Centre Hüseyin Amcaoğlu said on Tuesday that they were working on enabling the export of all processed non-animal sourced foods such as olive oil through the Green Line Regulation and for inspections to be held in the TRNC.

Speaking to the TAK news agency, the head of the Prime Ministry’s EU Coordination Centre Hüseyin Amcaoğlu said that they have sent the EU a letter on the matter requesting more information on packaging requirements, inspections, criteria and analysis.

He said that they were still waiting for an official response despite positive developments.

Amcaoğlu explained that they were proposing that the inspections on such food products be carried out in the TRNC, either by an independent body or experts as is the case with honey or potatoes.

Also touching upon the issue of Hellim exports to EU countries as a PDO (Product of Designated Origin), the head of the EU Coordination Centre said that quite a substantial amount of investment was being made to expand the country’s small livestock population and that livestock farmers will be in hot water should an obstacle be created for the export of Hellim.

He pointed out that trade through the Green Line Regulation was not 100 per cent guaranteed which was why it was important to look at alternative markets such as the UK.