FAQs

Is Green Line trade beneficial?  

Trade can be mutually beneficial to all who undertake it. The modern economic growth of the European Union was based on the elimination of trade barriers. This allows businesses to cooperate and provide their communities with better products at lower prices.

The same principle applies to the Green Line trade. It can promote intra-island cooperation and build a shared economic prosperity. It ensures that EU consumers are protected as EU product and service standards are in place. Green Line trade provides a common prosperity, without winners or losers. 

Is trade across the Green Line legal?

Yes. Green Line trade is regulated by the Green Line Regulation (“Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 of 29th April 2004 on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 to the Act of Accession).

What about processed food of non-animal origin?

The Green Line Regulation does not restrict trade of processed food of non-animal origin. The EU is working with the Republic of Cyprus authorities to support trading of processed food items to ensure food safety and hygiene standards are met. Currently these are the processed food items that can be traded across the Line after receiving approval from the EU experts. In order to obtain approval for the locally produced processed food listed below, please contact the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce:

• Olive oil
• Tahini
• Halva
• Carob syrup (side note: but not carob powder)
• Jams (side note: fruit unspecified)
• Fresh orange and pomegranate juices
• Table olives, black and green
• Juices, Nectars and Fruit Drinks of apple, grapefruit, pineapple, cherry, peach, apricot
• Coffee
• Dried molohiya/molokhia,
• Lemonade
• Frozen vegetables
• Frozen potatoes
• Pickles

Products intended to come in contact with food (food contact materials) can  also  be traded.

What are the main categories of the Greek Cypriot goods crossing the Line?

• Paints 
• Tiles 
• Machinery And Equipment 
• Pipes And Parts 
• Agricultural Products 
• Steel And Iron Products 
• Chemicals 
• Gases 
• Plastic products 
• Insulation materials 
• Paper and paperboard 
• Aluminium products
• Freshwater fish

What are the main categories of the Turkish Cypriot goods crossing the Line? 

• Plastics  
• Fish
• Mosaics, Marbles, Granites 
• Construction Materials
• Prefabricated Containers
• Wood Products/Furniture 
• Mattresses 
• Aluminium Products 
• Waste / Scrap Products (Vegetable Oils, Paper & Paperboard, Metals) 
• Vegetables & Fruit 
• Chemical Products (Thinner, Tile Adhesive, Plaster, Paint) 
• Curtains, Blinds

What are the objectives of the EU OSS?

The objective of the EU OSS is to contribute to increasing Green Line trade through the provision of technical assistance, information and support to traders and businesses involved in or with potential to engage in Green Line trade.
The key pillars of EU OSS are:

• Pillar 1: To increase awareness on Green Line trade, the opportunities for such trade and procedures that this trade might entail
• Pillar 2: Create knowledge that supports Green Line trade, including of the EU standards to which such trade needs to adhere .
• Pillar 3: Provide hands on consulting, advice and guidance to traders and businesses that facilitate trade, or are exploring trade facilitation
• Pillar 4: Create cooperation activities to bring together the interested stakeholders of all communities of Cyprus

We are open to cooperation with any organisation or stakeholder that would like to work with us, the European Commission, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) to promote trade and business cooperation across the Line.

What is Green Line trade?

Green Line trade is the trade between the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which it does not. Rules for Green Line trade are specified in the Green Line Regulation.

What is needed to trade from the Turkish Cypriot community to the Greek Cypriot community?

Important note: It is the responsibility of both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot economic operators to comply with the domestic requirements including registration of their companies, chamber memberships and local permits. Additional requirements might be required before any consignment. For more information about the domestic requirements, the economic operators are strongly encouraged to consult the relevant Chamber.

• Obtaining an accompanying document from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce on presentation of a relevant invoice. The accompanying document must identify the producer, consigner (seller) and buyer. It also must set out the amount and value of trade specified in an invoice. The accompanying document must be signed and stamped by the Chamber. The invoice must be attached to the accompanying document.
• Goods together with accompanying document and invoice reach the crossing point where they are checked by the custom officials.
• There may be additional checks at the crossing point and if there is a problem the goods may be returned, confiscated or destroyed.
• Until any additional checks are completed the goods are not allowed to be placed in the market.
• All the Turkish Cypriot products must comply with EU and domestic regulations and requirements, standards and specifications.
• Independent phytosanitary experts appointed by the EU Commission, deployed under the technical assistance and information exchange instrument (TAIEX), and operating in coordination with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, shall inspect all goods consisting of plants or plant products at the stages of production, of harvest and of marketing, to ascertain that EU rules are upheld. All Turkish Cypriot producers must contact the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce before initiating any production.

What is the EU One Stop Shop?

The EU One Stop Shop for Supporting Green Line Trade and Businesses is a project that has been established by the European Commission, in cooperation with and supported by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI/KEBE), and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC/KTTO) to:

• Support Green Line trade for the benefit of both Cypriot communities
• Promote business cooperation across the Green Line
• Inform the key stakeholders and the general public about the legal aspects of Green Line trade and its processes.
• Work to increase the quality standards in line with the EU acquis to facilitate trade and protect consumers

What is the Green Line Regulation (GLR)?

It is EU law. The official name is “Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 of 29th April 2004 on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 to the Act of Accession”. It entered into force on 1 May 2004. The Green Line Regulation lays down special rules concerning goods, services and persons crossing the line between the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which it does not.