TRNC cooperatives call for olive oil tracking to be introduced before the harvest begins

EZKOOP and ZEYTİNKOOP cooperatives have called on the TRNC Ministry of Agriculture to establish a system for tracking and controlling olives and their processed products. Only a few weeks remain before the harvest begins, but the system in Northern Cyprus is still not operational.

A joint statement was issued by the Cooperative for the Marketing of Artisans’ and Producers’ Products (EZKOOP) and the Büyük Konuk Olive Producers’ Agricultural Cooperative (Büyükkonuk, ZEYTİNKOOP). According to them, despite the laws and regulations currently in force, the circulation of smuggled olive oil that fails to meet sanitary requirements and standards is increasing.

The cooperatives reached this conclusion after a series of meetings with oil suppliers, olive mill owners and olive producers: all market participants faced the same problems.

The cooperatives also propose restructuring the sector’s support system by paying a subsidy for every litre of oil sold with documentation and recorded in the economy. In their assessment, such a scheme would halt the rise in olive and olive oil prices and protect producers from losses.

The decision to change the subsidy system has been submitted to the Olive Council for consideration: participants recorded it for further development, after which the proposal will be forwarded to the government.