Feta legislation to come in next month

EUROPE – A proposal to include Feta cheese on a list of protected regional products is likely to be voted on before July.

Supporters of the notion are keen to push forward legislation before Denmark assumes presidency of the European Union in July. Denmark has raised strong objections against the protection of the origin of Feta.

The proposal is likely to be discussed in June and settled at the next meeting of the European Council.

The proposal would make Feta a protected regional product, but a special increased majority is required at the European Council to either reject or approve the move.

Also in Europe this week, producers’ organisations have spoken out against the advocate general’s statement that Grana Padano cheese could legitimately be packaged anywhere in the EU. The organisations claim that this threatens the EU system for protecting regional products.