Digesting EU move to remove cheese naming rights | The North West Star

news, local-news, fiona simson, nff, national farmers federation

The European Union recently announced that halloumi cheese would be added to a growing list of products subject to geographical indicators. If the EU has its way, Australian cheesemakers would be forbidden from using the term ‘halloumi’ to describe their cheese. This news is the latest in a long list of demands from our European counterparts when it comes to GIs in the free trade negotiations between Australia and the EU. Despite ongoing opposition by Australia, the EU continues to preach the virtues of expanding protection for GIs. Negotiators have made it clear there will be no trade agreement with Australia unless we cave-in on the issue of GIs. More than 70 per cent…