Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/gresei

Feta cheese is causing a real beef between Greece and Canada

The Greeks don’t think an EU trade deal does enough for their cheese.

GREECE IS PUSHING for changes to a trade deal between the EU and Canada, saying that the 2013 agreement does not protect its celebrated feta cheese.

Economy minister George Stathakis will discuss the issue with his colleagues at a meeting in Brussels tomorrow.

A Greek source said they could veto the deal which must be approved by leaders of the European Union’s 28 member states in October, having been ratified by their parliaments.

“There has been no veto decision yet,” the source said.

We are trying for now to get amendments to the deal so that the text does not become the basis for other treaties” such as a huge EU-US trade deal under discussion.

Protect the feta

The dispute involves the level of protection given to feta by the EU, which has made feta a protected EU term.

But under the trade deal Canadian products put on the domestic market before October 2013 when the deal was signed can also be called feta, with the naming restrictions being limited to new products.

“Basically it’s zero protection,” the source said.

Athens wants all such cheeses that are not from Greece to be called “feta type”.

The EU says it will be “very difficult” to reopen discussions.

Feta, a Greek cheese made with goat’s milk, is one of Greece’s top ten exports with exports to Canada representing 10% of that market worth three million euros.

- © AFP, 2015

Read: “I’m trying to stop contagion” – Noonan on ‘feta cheese’ remark>

Author
View 14 comments
Close
14 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Hackett
    Favourite Jack Hackett
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:02 PM

    Hopefully they can get a feta deal

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute O Swetenham
    Favourite O Swetenham
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:08 PM

    Let the cheese puns begin. I think this could lead to a bitter fromage fray between the Canadians and the Greeks

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marco Reilly
    Favourite Marco Reilly
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:12 PM

    Ah Cheeseus, they’re terrible

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joanna
    Favourite Joanna
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:42 PM

    Greece seem cheesed off, Canada feta get their act together.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Symbolism
    Favourite Symbolism
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:07 PM

    Hard cheese

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
    Favourite Dermot Mc Loughlin
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 9:18 PM

    Damn Canadians up to no gouda.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Maher
    Favourite Thomas Maher
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:49 PM

    That Statahakis fella, Edam well better discuss it with colleagues!!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 8:03 PM

    I hope the Greeks use the veto. Enough of the deFETAist attitude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joey Sullivan
    Favourite Joey Sullivan
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Canada under stephen harper is another corporate owned cesspool. Tar sands and corporate ownership of govt are destroying a once model nation. Corrupt america junior.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reg
    Favourite Reg
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 7:49 PM

    Partial to a bit of Haloumi myself!

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gene Parmesan
    Favourite Gene Parmesan
    Report
    May 7th 2015, 12:40 AM

    They should caerphilly tell the Canadians that this nacho cheese!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Bayle
    Favourite William Bayle
    Report
    May 6th 2015, 8:04 PM

    Fêta is made with ewe milk . See what I did there

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
    Favourite Proinsias Ó Foghlú
    Report
    May 7th 2015, 6:36 AM

    Feta is made primarily from sheep milk, up to 30% goat milk is permitted! Come on stop making silly mistakes like this on the Jounal, Google is your friend.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Feeney
    Favourite Kevin Feeney
    Report
    May 7th 2015, 11:24 AM

    Is the market worth three million euro or does three million euro represent 10% of that market ? Either way the money involved won’t help Greece in any way.
    Please be more accurate dear Journal.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds