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Raw-milk cheeses: the industry welcomes the French Minister of Agriculture's willingness to listen, and calls for the creation of a national safeguard plan.
Following the alert letter sent to the public authorities last September, representatives of the raw milk cheese industry were received on Monday, January 12, 2026 by Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, accompanied by her deputy chief of staff and government departments (DGAL, DGPE).
This meeting brought together the five organizations that signed the alert letter: INAO, CNAOL, and the 3 dairy interprofessions: CNIEL, ANICAP and France Brebis Laitière. The organizations are delighted to have been received, listened to and heard, and salute the quality of the exchanges, marked by a shared desire to work collectively to ensure the long-term future of raw milk cheeses.
Raw milk, a fragile pillar of the French cheese-making model
Raw milk is the historical, cultural and economic foundation of many French cheeses, particularly those with official quality and origin labels (SIQO). It is at the heart of recognized expertise, a diversity of tastes and high regional added value. Thousands of farmhouse milk and cheese producers, processing plants and businesses make their living from it, often in rural and mountain areas where economic alternatives are limited.
However, this sector is currently undermined by a growing number of health crises, which call for harmonized and consistent risk management measures between economic players and government services, and sometimes heavy economic consequences for producers and processors. Despite the constant commitment of all those involved, and their collective efforts to achieve the highest standards of quality and health safety, certain situations may call into question the very continuation of raw milk production. Moving away from raw milk is, in most cases, a choice that entails a loss of value, typicity and link to the territory.
Towards a plan to safeguard raw milk
At the heart of the exchanges with the Minister, the organizations reaffirmed the need for a plan to safeguard raw milk, based on a balanced approach between the economic viability of the sectors and the preservation of know-how while guaranteeing food and health safety. This meeting marks an important first step towards establishing an ambitious roadmap. It has enabled us to agree on common findings and priorities. In addition, the industry welcomes the high-level political recognition of the specific challenges facing raw milk, and is pleased to see that the Minister, her departments and the industry all share a determination to work closely together over the coming months. Discussions will continue in order to develop concrete levers, particularly in terms of research, technical and economic support, anticipation of health crises, regulatory coherence and communication on public health recommendations.
Collective mobilization to continue
The signatory organizations will remain fully mobilized and wish to make this dynamic a long-term one. The next Salon International de l'Agriculture will be a key moment to deepen exchanges and review progress with all the players involved in building shared solutions. Preserving raw-milk cheeses means defending a demanding agricultural model, a unique heritage and the future of entire regions. The sectors are calling for this common will to be transformed into concrete action.