Switzerland reconsiders cheese subsidies

The Swiss policy of subsidising all cheese production is to be reconsidered this year. According to the national press in that country, the government is increasingly critical of the amount of low-fat industrial cheeses being produced with the help of the subsidy and immediately exported with any financial advantage remaining with the processors.

The farmers’ organisation Big-M claims that the so-called industrial cheese with 15% fat or under is being sold at relatively low prices to foreign concerns which utilise the dairy protein in the production of so-called “analogue” or false cheeses. In 2012 nearly 5000 tonnes of this industrial ware was sold abroad. The subsidy, equal to £.10 (€0.12)/kg milk and totalling the equivalent of £200 million (€239.5m) per year, was aimed making quality Swiss cheeses more competitive on the international market thereby increasing farmer income.