Havarti, Muenster
among cheese names at issue
MONROE - The push by European Union countries to make certain cheese names exclusive to the country of their origin has stagnated as trade deals have been pushed off until spring, but area cheesemakers are still fighting to keep their cheese names.
Steve Stettler, master cheesemaker at Decatur Dairy Incorporated, said the transatlantic trade deal has such worldwide impact that it moves slowly, but it definitely is not going away.
"Some countries have caved in and maybe they're (the EU) happy and pacified them for the moment ... but we are still looking at what we can do to protect our names," Stettler said.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a large trade deal between the U.S. and the EU to cut down on tariffs and regulatory barriers, but it has an addendum added to restrict U.S. cheese producers from using names such as Havarti, Parmesan, Feta and Muenster. The original deadline for the trade deal was 2015, but kinks in the negotiations and the upcoming 2016 presidential race have stalled talks.
Canada, Costa Rica, Singapore and South Korea have joined a growing list of countries agreeing to EU demands for exclusive rights to cheese names.
"They've been partially successful with Havarti; now no new business can sell it in Canada," Stettler said.
Stettler said he worries if American cheesemakers are barred from using certain names it will confuse consumers and lead to a dip in sales.
"A consumer goes into a store looking for a recipe, but it says 'compares to Havarti' or something," he said. "That's where we are really behind the eight-ball in the whole thing."
Talks in the deal specifically dealing with common cheese names are set to be held in May, but mostly European countries will be allowed to vote at the spring Libson Agreement, excluding the U.S., Canada and a list of others from participating.
Stettler is the president of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, and he said the group has a strong lobbying arm in Congress to help influence legislators and try to keep cheese names common.
"You take the strength of the cheese industry and the farm industry, and we do have a pretty good voice, but at the end of the day, do we have enough?" Stettler said.
Stettler said he and fellow cheesemakers have been keeping abreast of developments in the trade deals, but for now they just wish to make their voices heard by legislators.
"But how many trips can you take to Washington?" Stettler said.
among cheese names at issue
MONROE - The push by European Union countries to make certain cheese names exclusive to the country of their origin has stagnated as trade deals have been pushed off until spring, but area cheesemakers are still fighting to keep their cheese names.
Steve Stettler, master cheesemaker at Decatur Dairy Incorporated, said the transatlantic trade deal has such worldwide impact that it moves slowly, but it definitely is not going away.
"Some countries have caved in and maybe they're (the EU) happy and pacified them for the moment ... but we are still looking at what we can do to protect our names," Stettler said.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a large trade deal between the U.S. and the EU to cut down on tariffs and regulatory barriers, but it has an addendum added to restrict U.S. cheese producers from using names such as Havarti, Parmesan, Feta and Muenster. The original deadline for the trade deal was 2015, but kinks in the negotiations and the upcoming 2016 presidential race have stalled talks.
Canada, Costa Rica, Singapore and South Korea have joined a growing list of countries agreeing to EU demands for exclusive rights to cheese names.
"They've been partially successful with Havarti; now no new business can sell it in Canada," Stettler said.
Stettler said he worries if American cheesemakers are barred from using certain names it will confuse consumers and lead to a dip in sales.
"A consumer goes into a store looking for a recipe, but it says 'compares to Havarti' or something," he said. "That's where we are really behind the eight-ball in the whole thing."
Talks in the deal specifically dealing with common cheese names are set to be held in May, but mostly European countries will be allowed to vote at the spring Libson Agreement, excluding the U.S., Canada and a list of others from participating.
Stettler is the president of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, and he said the group has a strong lobbying arm in Congress to help influence legislators and try to keep cheese names common.
"You take the strength of the cheese industry and the farm industry, and we do have a pretty good voice, but at the end of the day, do we have enough?" Stettler said.
Stettler said he and fellow cheesemakers have been keeping abreast of developments in the trade deals, but for now they just wish to make their voices heard by legislators.
"But how many trips can you take to Washington?" Stettler said.