Cheesemakers hail a taste of success over raw milk guidance

Five Scottish cheesemakers yesterday claimed success in their challenge to recent changes to Food Standards Scotland ( FSS) inspection and enforcement guidance for the production of raw milk cheese in Scotland.

And they have claimed that their campaign against the FSS – which was backed by £ 15,000 of crowdfunding – has resulted in changes to the rules which will secure the future of artisan cheeses made from unpasteurised milk in Scotland.

The group sought a judicial review of t he more stringent inspection guidance launched at the end of last year, arguing that it was contrary to agreed EU industry standards and established best practice, believing that the “unrealistic” protocols would make raw cheese production in Scotland unviable.

However, t he FSS and the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee( SFELC) subsequently revised the guidance – a move which led the cheesemakers to drop their legal action as they were advised a full judicial review was no longer required.

The producers – made up of Errington Cheese, Isle of Mull Cheese, Galloway Farmhouse Cheese, Cambus O’may Cheese Co. and Finlay’s Farm Ltd – said they were delighted with the outcome.

Speaking yesterday, Selina Cairns, director at Errington Cheese, thanked the public of its support throughout a stressful period which she said had had a detrimental impacts on the group’s businesses and sales growth.

“Now that we have fair and achievable guidelines in place, we look forward to getting back on track with production and sales, with the hope that we can begin to rebuild our local workforce,” said Cairns.

However, the FSS yesterday said that, as it was the cheesemakers who had dropped the legal challenge, claims of success against the watchdog were inaccurate.

An FSS spokesperson said that revisions to the guidance had been agreed following“constructive discussions” following a meeting with industry representatives in March – and not as a result of what they termed an “unnecessary” legal challenge.

“It had been made clear at this meeting that the guidance was always intended to be reviewed, and at no stage was it in breach of EU law.”