France to relax cheese production rules after drought takes toll on grazing land

The Guardian reports on Thursday that France will temporarily relax strict grazing rules for makers of Comté, Beaufort and Abondance cheeses after drought and heatwaves left pastures barren. The change will allow farmers to supplement cows’ diets, a move aimed at protecting the livelihoods of traditional dairy workers. The government announced on Wednesday that the short‑term exemption is intended to keep production of Comté, the country’s top‑selling traditional cheese, which produced more than sixty‑two thousand tonnes last year.

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