Major exporters in the Cyprus citrus industry have already been granted producer organisation status less than five months after accession to the EU. They are Sedigep, the Fassouri growers' group Lionhart, Golden Tree Growers, Etairia Esperidocalliergiton Genesis and Persefoni.

Antonis Constantinou, director of the island’s agricultural department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment said the move was specially significant as beyond the benefits gained through promotion and marketing, they would also be entitled to financial assistance in citrus processing.