The French love their Camembert... Especially if it comes from Normandy!

In a recent decision (January 10, 2025), the Nantes Administrative Court of Appeal once again addressed the issue of Camembert labeling. It emphasized the importance of complying with the rules governing protected designations of origin (PDOs).

What does PDO mean?

The EU protects regional and traditional food products with three labels:

• PDO: protected designation of origin,

• PGI: protected geographical indication,

• and TSG: traditional speciality guaranteed.

This system was introduced in 1992 to guarantee the quality and origin of products.

A PDO requires that all stages of production take place in a specific area. The labels are uniform throughout the EU, while the names are translated into the national language. The French name “AOP” (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) corresponds to PDO and is used exclusively in France.

Summary of the case:

The Departmental Directorate for Employment, Labor, Solidarity, and Population Protection (DDETSPP) inspected labels on camembert cheeses indicating a Norman origin without being part of the PDO. The aim was to check whether the labels could mislead consumers by not being sufficiently distinctive and creating a risk of confusion as to the origin of these products in the PDO area.

Appeal court ruling:

The court ruled that the labels on Camembert cheeses not covered by the PDO could not indicate their Norman origin in a way that could mislead consumers. However, the indication of the origin of the milk as a Norman product remains authorized.

The protection of the term “Camembert de Normandie” is significant, as the French camembert market is estimated to be worth €393,450 million in 2023.

The French and their cheese... a true love story!

Photo credits: Laker