The Cypriot government is in the final stages of legal processing for the establishment of a system that will recognize and award a distinct Cypriot label to products, according to Petros Xenofontos, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment. He made this announcement during his address at the Festival of Authentic Local and Traditional Products held in Farmaka.

Minister Xenofontos emphasized that his ministry has been tirelessly working towards revitalizing the rural population, ensuring fair income for producers, safeguarding the quality of food, and supporting the generational renewal of the agricultural sector. Additionally, he highlighted that bolstering the competitiveness of primary production, processing, and capitalizing on agricultural products by the producers themselves are non-negotiable objectives for the government.

In a statement, the Minister noted that it's well-known that the agricultural sector in Cyprus faces numerous challenges. However, he assured that the government always stands beside farmers, livestock producers, and agricultural product processors to collaboratively tackle every new challenge. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment has been leveraging all available European financial tools to modernize the Cypriot agricultural sector.

In recent years, there has been a significant push from the Ministry of Agriculture to provide all possible assistance to producers. This aims to ensure the maximum number of traditional local products are protected under the European Union's geographical indications system.

Protection of agricultural product names through the Geographical Indications system is a consistent objective for the ministry. "As part of the pro-agriculture policy of the Nikos Christodoulides government, the draft law for the introduction of the Cypriot labeling system is nearing its finalization," he stated. 

Minister Xenofontos expressed that this initiative will further boost Cypriot countryside products. He clarified that the award of the label would essentially depict the origin of products, providing them with a unique market presence associated with their place of production and the local raw materials used in their preparation.

Concluding his remarks about the festival in Farmaka, Minister Xenofontos praised the showcased products as unique components of Cyprus's gastronomic heritage. He emphasized the need to cherish and protect this heritage "as the apple of our eye" for future generations.