Concerns throw into doubt EU protection for Wensleydale
THE campaign to get protected status for real Wensleydale cheese has been dealt a blow after the Government received concerns about the application during its consultation process.
Wensleydale Dairy Products, the main producers of the cheese, applied for Protected Designation of Origin for Real Yorkshire Wensleydale last summer.
If granted, it would mean that no producers outside the area could make a cheese with the same name.
The application, which is being supported by the Yorkshire Post's Uniquely Yorkshire campaign, was sent to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Defra – where it underwent a 12-week consultation process.
Although the application has received huge support from thousands of people all over the world, five responses to the consultation raised concerns over a variety of issues, including the exact wording of the name to be protected.
Had there been no concerns, it would have been sent straight to the European Union for further consultation and a final decision.
It is a blow to Wensleydale Creamery, based in Hawes.
The Yorkshire Post, together with representatives from the creamery, delivered a petition to Richmond Tory MP William Hague with more than 14,000 signatures backing the campaign. Other supporters include TV chefs Brian Turner and James Martin, as well as businesses and MPs across Yorkshire.
A spokeswoman for the creamery said it hoped to meet Defra representatives in the next few weeks to discuss the application.
A Defra spokesman said the consultation process had been extended.
He added that options for the future included amending the application to reflect concerns or dealing with the concerns without needing to change the application.
The creamery spokeswoman said: "The Wensleydale Creamery remains confident about the application and would like to thank the Yorkshire Post for its continued support and the campaign that it has promoted throughout the process."
Protected status promotes and protects food products in the EU, which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using traditional methods.
Fewer than 30 UK products have protected status whereas other European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy have hundreds.
UK products with protected include Blue Stilton, Newcastle Brown Ale and Cornish Clotted Cream.
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