Wales’ iconic Caerphilly cheese has official gained European protection, joining the rank of Champagne, Parma Ham and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.
The European Commission has granted ‘Traditional Welsh Caerphilly/Traditional Welsh Caerffili’ protection by the European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, one of three special European Protected Food Name (PFN) designations.
Under the EU’s protected food name scheme certain food and drink products receive Europe-wide legal protection against imitation, misuse and fraud.
Traditional Welsh Caerphilly is Wales’s first cheese to attain PFN status and joins a family of 15 Welsh PFN products.
The application for PGI status was made to the European Commission on behalf of Traditional Welsh Caerphilly Cheesemakers in Wales, led by Carwyn Adams from Caws Cenarth.
Native cheese
Traditional Welsh Caerphilly is Wales’s only native cheese. Gwynfor and Thelma Adams from Caws Cenarth first made this cheese in 1987 when they started making cheese as a direct result of milk quotas.
Today, 30 years later, their Traditional Welsh Caerffili is made with the same original recipe and has been named after Thelma, as Thelma’s Original.
Wales' Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said it is a product "worthy of recognition."
“I am pleased the Welsh Government was able to support Caws Cenarth, on behalf of all Traditional Welsh Caerphilly cheesemakers, with this application,” Ms Griffiths said.
“We are proud we now have fifteen Welsh food and drink products that have been awarded PFN status. This is testament to the high quality and unique nature of our produce.”
Carwyn Adams from Caws Cenarth said: “Great care is taken at every step of the recipe. From the careful hand cutting of the curds to the individual hand moulding of the cheese.
“We are really excited to be able to protect the “Traditional Welsh Caerphilly/Traditional Welsh Caerffili” name. It’s a guarantee of its quality and authenticity, and the skill and passion involved in the making."
