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EU Decides that Feta Cheese Must Be Greek On October 14, the European Commission, the European Union's (EU) executive arm, ruled that only Greek cheesemakers can use the "feta" label; cheese producers in other EU member countries must stop using that product name within five years. Under EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) rules, this gives feta cheese the same kind of protection as Italian Parma ham or French champagne. This decision is the latest in a series of EU actions aimed at expanding the use of protective geographic indications for foods, including a June proposal to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to increase significantly the number of foods protected under WTO rules."We are concerned that this hardening EU position on food protections could adversely affect the achievement of meaningful reform within the current round of WTO negotiations," said IDFA Senior Vice President Greg Frazier. "IDFA continues to work with U.S. trade officials to make sure these efforts do not hamper market access for U.S. dairy foods." Denmark's National Dairy Board has announced plans to appeal the commission's feta ruling to the European Court of Justice. This court will ultimately determine if the European Commission's ruling on feta will stand. Denmark exports most of the 30,000 tons of feta that it produces each year. Germany and France are also major feta producers. With its annual production at 115,000 tons of feta annually, Greece first filed an application for naming rights in 1994, arguing that the feta cheese could only be made with a mixture of sheep and goat's milk from Greek animals. The European Commission's initial approval in 1996 was followed by a series of objections, court challenges and lengthy reviews that led to this month's decision. To read the European Commission's complete ruling, click here (.pdf). Posted October 28, 2002
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