NICOSIA – Protesting high prices and production problems, Cypriot farmers poured tons of milk outside the Presidential palace in the capital and set bales of hay on fire.

Goat and sheep farmers said non-compliance with regulations on the production of halloumi cheese has left them with too much milk to sell or use and that high animal feed prices are further cutting into their profitability, said Reuters.

Halloumi is traditionally made with goat and sheep milk and is listed as a Protected Designation Origin (PDO) status from the European Union but cheesemakers are using more cow’s milk, preferred by foreign buyers.

The soft rubbery cheese, a valued Cypriot export because it can be grilled without melting, was given its PDO status in 2021, which means halloumi cannot be produced and marketed by that name in any other country.

About 300 farmers, some driving milk tankers, arrived in a convoy at the gated compound in the center of the city where they began their milk-and-hay protest as a Presidential representative promised they would be compensated soon.