GERMANY – The European Commission has sent a final written warning to the German government for failing to follow its guidelines on protected designations of origin (PDO) regarding Parmesan cheese.

Producers in the country have been selling cheese under the Parmigiano Reggiano label, the use of which is reserved by EU law for producers from certain areas of Italy who use a specific production process.

The EC opened an infringement procedure last October, but Germany refused to give any commitment that it would conform to the law. It now has two months to bring itself in line, or the EU is likely to take legal action.