EUROPE – Although the Feta name can only be used on Greek cheeses from 2007, sales of the cheese produced elsewhere are rising sparking concerns that there will be a massive shortage of the cheese.

Sales of Feta from Western Europe have risen again this year after a 19% increase to around 100,000 tonnes in 2003.

“The first trial before the European Court in Luxembourg set 2007 as the date when the name Feta would become a protected one, applying only to sheep milk cheese from Greece,” explained Danish Dairy Board representative to the EU in Brussels Hans Bender.

“But neither the Western European countries nor Greece really won that case and a new trial has been ordered. However, time is dragging on with no news from Luxembourg at all. If nothing is done between now and 2007 it could well be that we will end up having to find another name for cows’ milk Feta made in Denmark, Germany or France!” This would leave a tremendous hole in the western European market because although Greece actually produces some 115,000 tonnes of the traditional sheep and goats’ milk Feta annually, only 35,000 tonnes currently finds its way to the EU each year.

Meanwhile the major Danish importers of Feta into the huge German sales arena – boosted by demand from large ethnic markets including a Turkish community of over 2.5 million – shipped a total 13,600 tonnes of Feta to Germany in the first six months of this year. This promises to lift annual deliveries to Germany by about 7% on the year.