Danish Companies Violating EU Law With Illegal Labeling of Cheese Exports, European Commission Says

The European Commission referred Denmark to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with European Union law regulating illegal cheese exports, the commission said in a Nov. 26 press release. Companies based in Denmark are producing and exporting “white cheese” to non-EU countries after labeling it with “Feta,” the commission said, which violates EU law. Feta is registered as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and can only be produced in Greece, the commission said. The action is a “direct breach” of the protected designation and “Danish authorities have failed to prevent or stop it,” the commission said. The actions also may endanger “ongoing negotiations” between the EU and third countries surrounding trade deals that ensure protection of EU PDOs.