France to Ease Strict Rules on Iconic Cheeses as Heat Dries Pastures
Authorities say 95% of mainland France was hit by drought in July, forcing temporary feed exemptions for protected-origin cheese makers.
- On Wednesday, French authorities announced temporary measures allowing producers of Abondance, Beaufort, and Comté cheeses to supplement herd diets with fodder and grain from outside their regions, responding to severe drought conditions.
- Widespread drought affected 95 percent of mainland France in July, leaving pastures 'highly degraded.' Growth on permanent grasslands as of August 10 measured one-third less than the 1989-2018 average, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
- To maintain 'Appellation d'origine protegee' labels, producers follow rigid rules restricting animal feed sources. The National Institute of Origin and Quality is granting temporary relief for additional cheeses including Reblochon, Cantal, Bleu d'Auvergne, and Fourme d'Ambert.
- Joel Vindret, head of SIFA, called the move a 'welcome and common-sense decision.' He told RFI, 'The aim remains to feed the herds under the best possible conditions' despite the sharp decline in grass and hay.
- Officials emphasized these measures apply only in exceptional circumstances. The AOP label continues offering benefits like preserving traditional know-how and local cattle breeds, even as climate-driven heatwaves force farmers to adapt production strategies.
14 Articles
14 Articles
'No More Grass Left to Eat': France Relaxes Rules on Iconic 'Protected' Cheese Amid Drought
France has temporarily relaxed centuries‑old rules for some of its best‑known protected cheeses after drought scorched pastures and left farmers struggling to feed their herds, issuing emergency waivers that let AOP producers loosen strict requirements on grazing, feed and sourcing to keep dairy production going. But not every cheesemaker is willing to compromise. Around 70 per cent of Salers producers have stopped making the cheese over the sum…
France Loosens Rules for Iconic Cheeses
French cheesemakers are getting some rare leeway from the government as drought shrivels pastures and squeezes milk supplies. Producers of Comté, Beaufort, and Abondance—prestige cheeses with protected-origin status, made from the raw milk of cattle grazing in the mountains—will be temporarily allowed to feed cows more imported fodder...
Drought and heat waves have put a damper on cheese production in France, where regulations are now being relaxed.
France relaxes rules for three famous cheeses after summer drought
The drought in France is forcing farmers who produce milk for some of the country's most famous cheeses to feed their cows differently, as scorched pastures make it increasingly difficult to stick to strict rules on protected regional foods, known as AOP. Temporary exemptions on fodder sources will apply to the producers of Abondance, Beaufort and Comté to cope with the grass shortage.
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