EU Grants Edam Holland, Gouda Holland PGI Status

BRUSSELSThe European Commissions Standing Committee for Protected Geographical Indications and Denominations of Origin awarded protection for the Dutch cheese denominations Gouda Holland and Edam Holland as Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). Formal adoption by the EU is expected in the next few weeks.

The new protection extends only to cheeses made and ripened naturally in a traditional way in the Netherlands, using milk from Dutch cows. As reported by the Dairy Reporter, the protection extends only to the terms Gouda Holland and Edam Holland with the two words together and does not cover the use of the words Edam and Gouda that continue to be considered generic.

According to the  Dutch Dairy Association (NZO), the protection gives consumers a means of distinguishing authentic Dutch cheeses and improves the competitive position of the products in EU export markets.