Full liberalisation of the Swiss cheese market in 2007 will bring new opportunities for the country’s dairy sector, according to Anton Schmutz, director of the national association of cheese makers FROMARTE.

Although the country is only 60% self-sufficient in cheese, the Swiss producers are positive about free trade with the EU and, in similar agreements, possibly with the US and some Asian countries too.
But one aspect that is urgently required, notes Anton Schmutz, is a national exhibition to show customers worldwide what Switzerland has to offer in the cheese sector.
First steps to launch such an event in Bern next January have failed because the cheese makers want the event in the capital but there’s no room in the main exhibition halls at that time. Instead, the new cheese event