The new National Quality Certification System for Cypriot agricultural and livestock products, an initiative of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Dr. Maria Panagiotou, was presented today at a workshop organized by the Department of Agriculture in Nicosia. The new system introduces a unified certification framework, aimed at highlighting the quality, authenticity, and added value of Cypriot products.
The workshop was attended by representatives of agricultural and producer organizations, academic institutions, representatives of KOPP and KOAP, as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, other ministries, and government agencies.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In her opening remarks, the Minister noted that the initiative is yet another important action under the Strategy for the Development of the Primary Sector, which is gradually implementing the commitments of the Governance Program of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, through specific policies and measures that strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the primary sector.
The Minister emphasized that the new system addresses consumers’ ever-increasing need for greater transparency regarding the origin and characteristics of products, thereby strengthening their trust and creating new opportunities for producers.
As he pointed out, for a country like Cyprus, quality is a strategic choice; while it cannot compete in terms of production volume, it can create greater value through quality, authenticity, innovation, and the reliability of its products. This is precisely the direction the new National Quality Certification System is designed to serve.
As he stated, “the new National Quality Mark is the identity of Cypriot products; it is proof that behind every product stands a producer who responsibly invests in quality, food safety, environmental protection, and continuous improvement.” This, moreover, is at the core of business and a prerequisite for the development of branded products.
The Minister emphasized that the Quality Seal serves as recognition of the producer’s efforts and a means of differentiation in a highly competitive market, creating added value for their products and rewarding those who invest in higher quality standards. For consumers, he added, it serves as a reliable guide for making choices, as it ensures that the product has been certified through transparent procedures and specific criteria, guaranteeing a level of quality that exceeds basic legal requirements.
She also noted that consumer trust is the most valuable asset of any product, pointing out that the new system creates a more direct and transparent relationship between producer and consumer. As Dr. Panagiotou explained, by utilizing technology and scanning the QR code that will accompany every certified product, consumers will be able to learn about the origin, the supply chain, and the quality characteristics of the product they choose, thereby actively supporting rural Cypriots and businesses that invest in quality, innovation, and sustainability.
The Minister also noted that the National Quality Mark aims to serve as a powerful ambassador for Cyprus, by enhancing the recognition of Cypriot products in both the domestic and international markets, linking the name of Cyprus with quality, authenticity, and reliability, and highlighting the comparative advantages of our country, thereby creating new opportunities for exports and the growth of the Cypriot agri-food sector.
The goal, as he specifically noted, “is to provide practical support to producers who choose to join the new Quality Certification System,” and announced that the Ministry intends to provide annual aid per farm or processing facility to cover certification costs, as well as additional financial support for administrative expenses, record-keeping, and the preparation of supporting documents.
In addition, he noted that participation in the System will be taken into account in the Ministry’s investment initiatives, providing significant bonus points for upgrading and modernization efforts. As she explained, in this way, the new System will not be limited solely to quality certification but will also be linked to specific incentives that will encourage more producers to invest in it.
In closing, Dr. Panagiotou called on all producer and professional organizations to take advantage of the new initiative and actively contribute to the development of a robust quality framework for Cypriot products, expressing her confidence that the new System will serve as an essential tool for enhancing the international competitiveness and added value of the Cypriot agri-food sector.
At the start of the workshop, the Director of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Makis Antoniadis, noted in his opening remarks that the goal of the new system is to serve as a tool that will highlight the quality of Cypriot products, strengthen the competitiveness of the primary sector, and create added value for producers through reliable national quality schemes based on objective criteria, transparent procedures, and independent certification.
This was followed by a presentation of the National Framework by Dr. Anthimi Melifronidou Pantelidou, an official from the Department of Agriculture, who analyzed the operational framework of the new system, the process for developing and approving the National Certification Schemes, as well as the role of accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies. She also presented the National Quality Certification Mark, which will accompany certified products via a QR code and a rating system of up to three stars. As he explained, through the QR code, consumers will have immediate access to information on the origin, certification, and quality characteristics of each product, while the star rating system will reflect additional criteria related to, among other things, food safety, environmental impact, and quality. He emphasized that the new Framework creates a unified, transparent, and reliable certification mechanism, thereby strengthening consumer confidence and the added value of Cypriot products.
