Environment & Climate
France temporarily relaxes strict cheese production rules amid severe summer drought
Authorities grant temporary exemptions to pasture feeding rules for iconic cheeses after heatwaves severely deplete grasslands across the country.
The short version
- France is granting temporary exemptions to its strict Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) production rules for several traditional cheeses, including comté, beaufort, and abondance.
- The relief allows farmers to supplement their cows' diets with more imported fodder and grain due to dried-up pastures.
- Data from the Agriculture Ministry shows grassland growth was one-third lower than the 1989-2018 average as of early August.
Key facts
- The National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) is temporarily easing strict PDO production rules for cheeses including abondance, beaufort, comté, reblochon, cantal, bleu d'Auvergne, and fourme d'Ambert.[France 24]
- The exemptions allow cheese producers to use higher amounts of feed and fodder sourced from outside their normal grazing areas.[France 24]
- According to the Agriculture Ministry's statistical service, grassland growth as of August 10 was one-third below the 1989-2018 average.[France 24]
- Drought conditions affected 95 percent of mainland France during July.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- The precise duration of the temporary rule relaxations has not been specified.[France 24]