- France has temporarily relaxed rules for making some of its best-known cheeses after the summer drought drastically reduced the amount of grass available to feed milk herds.
- Government decrees to grant dispensations to manufacturers of Abondance, Beaufort and Comté cheeses appeared on Wednesday.
- Makers of Abondance cheese will be allowed to reduce the amount of pastured grass in their animals' diet from 50% to 15% and import forage from outside their zone.
- Makers of Comté cheese will be able to replace the local green maize they usually give to their cattle with maize from elsewhere.
- Agriculture minister Annie Genevard is expected to hold crisis talks next week before announcing emergency measures for farmers.
- The National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) has approved temporary changes to the rules for other protected produce because of the effects of the summer heat.
- Products that will benefit include some types of Calvados and cider from Normandy, Crémant d'Alsace fizzy wine, lamb from Poitou-Charentes, and Reine-Claude plums.
- Similar measures were implemented after the dry summer of 2022.
France has temporarily relaxed cheese production rules for Abondance, Beaufort, and Comté due to a historic drought that has scorched grazing pastures, affecting 95% of mainland France in July. The government announced these changes on Wednesday, allowing farmers to import feed from outside their designated areas.1345
The National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) has approved these temporary changes, which permit cheese makers to reduce the amount of pastured grass in their animals' diet from 50% to 15%. For instance, producers of Comté cheese in the Jura mountains can replace local green maize with maize sourced from elsewhere.7
The drought has severely impacted traditional dairy farming, with about 70% of salers cheese producers pausing production over the summer. Hubert Genty, a dairy farmer, stated, “There really is no grass left to eat, this grass is totally scorched and has no value.”
In addition to Abondance, Beaufort, and Comté, other cheeses like Cantal, Bleu d'Auvergne, and Reblochon are also expected to receive similar waivers. The INAO is also considering temporary relief for other protected products, including some types of Calvados and cider from Normandy.8
As the drought continues to threaten the livelihoods of dairy workers, these regulatory changes aim to support the industry during this challenging period.
“The INAO has approved temporary changes for other protected products, including Calvados, cider, and Reine-Claude plums. A dairy farmer in Normandy said his cows are producing less milk, cutting his wife's daily cheese output from 600-700 to 400-450.”
The Guardian
