Trade in honey and fish allowed over Cyprus Green Line

The European Commission adopted a Decision authorising for the first time the trade in certain animal products, namely honey and fish, across the Green Line in Cyprus.

EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: “Today’s decision offers a welcome opportunity for Cyprus to build on the promising increase in trade across the Green Line, to the benefit of both communities. This trade has increased steadily in volume and value since the Commission authorised the trade in potatoes and citrus fruits in 2005. At the same time, it ensures through the appointment of independent experts that the food traded is sampled and surveyed for compliance with EU requirements.”

The so-called Green Line Regulation, adopted in 2004, has provided a clear EU framework for the crossing of people and goods across the Green Line since the accession of Cyprus to the EU. The Green Line Regulation prohibited expressly the movement of animals and animal products, until sufficient information became available with regard to the state of animal health in the areas in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control.

Under a Regulation adopted in February 2005 concerning agriculture and facilities for persons crossing the line, the prohibitions on the trade of live animals and animal products could be lifted subject to the provisions of the EU Food Law rules. The Commission Decision authorising the trade in honey and fish across the Green Line was approved unanimously by Member States in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 22 March 2007.