By Laura Michell
A Thomastown cheese maker fears his family-owned business won’t survive if the European Union succeeds in a push to ban Australian producers from using household food names such as feta and parmesan.
The European Union is pushing for its free trade agrement with Australia to include labelling rules that would prevent common cheese names from being used to describe Australian products.
Among the names Australian producers would be prevented from using are feta, parmesan, halloumi and taleggio.
Floridia Cheese director Mauro Montalto said the company, which started in 1952, was based on traditional Italian cheese making.
The company produces feta, parmesan and halloumi among other cheese varieties.
“These common brands were established years ago, our lives have been built around these names – this is our livelihood,” Mr Montalto said.
“We have invested a lot of hard work and capital to build the name recognition we now have in the marketplace.
“If we were to lose the ability to use common names, I seriously doubt if we would survive, and more than 60 years of family heritage and tradition would be lost.”
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If the European Union’s plan is successful, Australian producers would need to re-name and re-market their products.
Mr Montalto said Floridia’s products were based on traditional varieties, meaning it did not have flexibility in terms of names.
“Our business model will be unsustainable as we could no longer use long-established branding and product names,” he said.
“We could potentially face reduced consumer demand and sales, if they adjust at all.”
Whittlesea council will write to local federal MPS and Victorian senators to lobby the federal government.
Cr Tom Joseph, who raised the issue after being contacted by a number of the municipality’s cheese producers, said the government had a duty to respect Australian jobs and businesses.
“If the Australian Government caves in, it will be difficult for the cheese-making industry,” he said.
