Swiss seek EU protection for the cheese without a hole

(GENEVA) - Switzerland has asked the neighbouring European Union to grant protected status to its best known hole-less cheese, gruyere, after France made a similar bid for French-made cheeses bearing the same name and holes.

The Swiss agriculture department said it was trying to ensure that the hard cheese made in the western Swiss region of Gruyere benefitted from "Protected Designation of Origin" status throughout the EU.

The official label ensures that only cheeses produced in a particular geographical area in a specific way can carry that name.

French gruyere is meant to be produced in several areas close to Switzerland and has holes.

Genuine Swiss gruyere from the Alpine foothills around the town of Gruyeres does not have holes, unlike its renowned national counterpart, emmental.

France and non-EU member Switzerland have what amounts to a gentleman's agreement recognising each other's varieties of gruyere in their countries, after squabbling over the name almost opened up a trade battle a decade ago.

The Swiss ministry said in a statement that both governments had agreed to make requests for simultaneous treatment by the EU.

Cheese is Switzerland's top agricultural export. Last year, the Swiss sold some 56,068 tonnes abroad and imported just 33,346 tonnes of foreign cheeses, according to official trade data.

Out of all Swiss cheeses, the French tend to go for the flavour of Swiss gruyere but account for just 10 percent of overall Swiss exports.

In June, the European Union and Switzerland formally lifted barriers to the trade in cheese, removing import tariffs and export subsidies.