Formation of a Hellenic Meat Exporters Association to Strengthen Global Market Readiness
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The Hellenic Interprofessional Organization of Meat and Livestock (EDOTOKK) is launching a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the international presence of Greek meat and meat preparations. The Organization has opened a structured dialogue with export-oriented companies in order to establish the Hellenic Meat and Meat Preparations Exporters Association, a new institutional body operating under clear and objective membership criteria.
The initiative seeks to create a coherent and reliable framework that will improve the organization of export activity, provide timely technical information, and reinforce the credibility of Greek products in international markets. As part of this effort, EDOTOKK President Athanasios Kasidis met with Nikos Loustas, founder and CEO of “Megas Gyros,” to discuss the conditions required for a unified and functional structure that will support exporters across the sector.
The planned Association is designed to operate as a technical support hub for export procedures. It will assist members in the pre verification of documentation before submission to competent authorities, offer country specific regulatory updates, issue immediate notifications when requirements change, and prepare practical guidance to help companies adapt to evolving sanitary and regulatory conditions. It will also contribute to training and coordination among exporters when international compliance frameworks shift.
The Association will not issue sanitary or export certificates, nor will it replace the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, veterinary authorities, TRACES, or any other competent body. Its role will be that of a technical and institutional interlocutor, facilitating proper export preparation and articulating well documented sector-wide issues that require coordinated attention.
Membership will be voluntary and based on demonstrable export experience, a lawful and traceable supply chain, and food safety certifications appropriate to each company’s operations. These criteria will be specified in the Association’s statutes and reaffirmed annually. Each member will retain full commercial independence, while the Association’s operation will adhere strictly to confidentiality and competition law.
President Kasidis emphasized that the international expansion of Greek meat requires shared tools and reliable technical support. He noted that the new Association aims to prevent delays and errors, strengthen exporters’ readiness, and operate in a complementary manner to competent authorities.
The next step involves finalizing the Association’s statutes and expanding dialogue with companies that demonstrate established export activity. The shared objective is to create a credible and applicable framework that supports quality, compliance, and the consistent presence of Greek meat products in global markets.
