The risk of a reduction in feta cheese production by up to 20,000 tons was highlighted by Michalis Sarantis, president of the National Interprofessional Cheese Organization “Feta” (EDOF), speaking to the Cross-Party Parliamentary Committee for the Primary Sector. Sarantis presented EDOF’s estimates for feta production and the country’s actual livestock numbers to the parliamentary committee, which, as he said, diverge from Statistical Service data. He also answered MPs’ questions about the impact of the MERCOSUR agreement on the emblematic PDO product. “Let there be 100 MERCOSUR agreements, feta will have no problem,” he stated characteristically, reassuring committee members. Referring to the milk shortage, the EDOF president noted that “we have 500,000 animal deaths” and that since October, sheep milk destined for feta has been significantly reduced. As he clarified, 50% of the animals that died were milk-producing, 30% were about to enter production, and 20% were newborns. “There’s a possibility this year we’ll have reduced production of up to 20,000 tons of feta,” he noted, adding that the final picture will emerge within the next six months.
Foot-and-mouth disease and delays in response
The EDOF president was asked whether the ministry handled the foot-and-mouth disease issue correctly. As he said, “foot-and-mouth disease started in our country in the summer of 2024” and remains a problem for the sector for more than a year and a half. He emphasized that disease management is the responsibility of the regions and that the spread began when foot-and-mouth crossed from Turkey to Alexandroupoli and then to Komotini. “Immediate, harsh and difficult measures should have been taken,” he stated, noting that “a second border should have been created at the Komotini-Xanthi border”. According to him, the delay led to the disease spreading through illegal animal and feed transportation.
EDOF’s position on MERCOSUR and adulteration
Sarantis reiterated that the MERCOSUR agreement does not threaten feta, emphasizing that exports to Latin America are minimal – about 30 tons annually – compared to Germany, which imports over 25,000 tons. “Feta has no problem globally and we have nothing to fear except our own bad selves,” he declared, referring to past adulteration incidents. The EDOF president made clear that the Interprofessional will be relentless against adulteration phenomena, announcing strict sanctions for those who violate feta production rules.
Sarantis also called on anyone with evidence of potential fraud to present it so EDOF can proceed with required actions.
The EDOF president also told the cross-party committee that:
- Today perhaps over 50% of livestock operations don’t have the required functionality.
- In Greece, more than 90% of sheep milk goes to feta production. Controls must extend to production facilities and farms, so the issue of barn facility specifications must be resolved.
- Greece is the largest producer of sheep and goat milk in Europe, with 732,000 tons of sheep milk and 158,000 tons of goat milk (2025 data). Since milk cannot be stored, all producer subsidies should be linked to milk, meat and feed.
- The question is how much livestock capital exists in the country. The Statistical Service reports about 16 million sheep and 2.8 million goats. Based on EDOF estimates, Greece has about 7 million sheep and approximately 1.5 to 2 million goats maximum.
- Breeding veterinarians can help at all breeding stages and their contribution to vaccinations will be important to prevent zoonotic disease problems.
- The added value in sheep and goat milk is connected to feta. Greece produced 65,000 to 70,000 tons of feta a few years ago, and 2025 data shows 140,000 tons of feta. Feta helps the country’s trade balance with approximately 1 billion euros in foreign currency inflow. Therefore feta is important in the food sector and exports. Today, of the 140,000 tons of feta produced, 85,000 tons are exported.
