France Eases Rules for Seven Protected Cheeses

France’s government has authorised temporary flexibility in the feeding rules governing cows that produce milk for cheeses with protected designations of origin. The decision follows a drought and the resulting shortage of pasture.

The exception covers Comté, Beaufort and Abondance. These cheeses are among the products whose production rules specify conditions for the milk used to make them.

The same temporary measure will apply to four additional protected cheese varieties. The available information does not identify those varieties individually.

The government’s action concerns the feed given to the cows producing the relevant milk. It does not remove the protected status of the cheeses named in the measure.

The change was introduced after the lack of pasture affected the normal feeding arrangements for the animals. Its duration is temporary, according to the government measure.

Comté, Beaufort and Abondance are therefore permitted to operate under the stated feeding exceptions during the period covered by the measure. The other four protected varieties will receive the same flexibility.