Munster, green flageolet, Quercy lamb… several PDOs (protected designation of origin) and Labels Rouges have been relaxed for the winter after the episode of drought this summer, in particular due to the lack of hay, according to the decrees published this Sunday in the Official Gazette.
The reduced proportion of local feed for the cows.
In the case of Munster and Munster géromé cheeses, cheeses produced around the Vosges massif, the cows’ feed can be produced at least 80% in the geographical area (compared to 95% previously) and at least in 60% operational (up from 70% previously), until May 15, 2023.
In the Massif Central, “due to an episode of drought”, the cows producing Fourme d’Ambert can now have up to 20% of their forage from outside the geographical area.
Specifications have also been relaxed for Bleu d’Auvergne, Bleu des Causses, Corsican Brocciu and Rigotte de Condrieu.
Due to drought and heat waves, many growers are no longer able to meet the specification requirements, with breeders being the most exposed due to grass that no longer grows.
The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is the European version of the AOC (Protected Designation of Origin) for food and dairy products.
The DOC are granted by the National Institute of Origin (INAO) to regional products (wines, cheeses, meats or charcuterie specialties) identifying both their ancestral or regional production method, as well as their precise production area.
Several exceptions in France this year
Of the 101 agri-food products with PDO in France, several have already obtained exceptions this year in at least one point of the specifications that they must meet to maintain their precious denomination, such as Espelette and Saint-nectary pepper.
In Hauts-de-France, the Labels Rouges bean ingot and the green flageolet from the Vallée de la Lys were also entitled on Sunday to an extension of the date of minimum durability of the 2021 harvest, from 18 to 24 months.
As for meat, the maximum slaughter age in the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) “Agneau du Quercy” has been increased from 150 to 160 days, until the end of November.
Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau said in September that the summer crisis raised “the long-term question of the French agricultural model and its ability to withstand climate change.”
At the start of the Covid crisis in 2020, many cheese PDOs had already had to apply for exceptions, in particular to be able to freeze cow’s milk while stores were closed. Also in 2021, the INAO had also received numerous exemption requests due to drought.
Source: BFM TV
