Asturias Allows Any Cattle Breed to Make Afuega’l Pitu

Asturias has amended the specifications governing Afuega’l Pitu, a cheese protected under Spain’s designation-of-origin system. The changes concern the types of milk that may be used and the conditions under which the cheese can be produced.

The revised rules remove the previous limitation on the breeds of dairy cattle supplying the milk. Afuega’l Pitu may therefore be made with milk from cattle of any breed, rather than only from specified dairy breeds.

The reform also broadens the permitted use of raw milk. This changes the range of milk that can be used in production while leaving the product’s protected designation-of-origin framework in place.

The amendment does not remove the geographical requirement for the raw material. Milk used to make Afuega’l Pitu must continue to originate within the area covered by the designation.

As a result, the updated conditions combine wider rules on cattle breeds and raw milk with the existing territorial requirement. The cheese remains subject to the conditions attached to its protected designation of origin in Asturias.