Jordan bans import of halloumi from Northern Cyprus

President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, met with King Abdullah II of Jordan. One of the key issues discussed was the import of halloumi (hellim) cheese from Northern Cyprus.

Christodoulides welcomed the King’s decision to impose a ban on the import of halloumi produced in Northern Cyprus. He described this step as “a reinstatement of the ban on goods coming from the occupied areas” and stressed that the decision is fully aligned with the position of the Republic of Cyprus. According to him, the measure from Amman is an important signal of support for Cyprus’ sovereignty.

The Cypriot President also noted that this move could strengthen cooperation between Jordan and the European Union, especially in the context of Cyprus’ upcoming presidency of the EU Council. Christodoulides underlined that the presidency will create opportunities to advance the “Southern Neighbourhood” policy and expand bilateral engagement.

During the meeting, Christodoulides informed King Abdullah about the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and invited him to attend the official ceremony marking the start of Cyprus’ EU presidency on January 7, 2026, as well as to participate in the informal European Council summit scheduled for April 2026.