A Swiss dairy has been slapped down in its request to make Swiss cheese out of German milk. The producer had asked permission to import three million litres of German milk.
Their request is still open, but the regional milk producers association has called for rejection, and the law is generally on their side. The association says approval would have 'disastrous consequences' for Swiss farmers, whose milk sells for higher prices than in neighboring countries.
A spokesman explained "When milk is imported, the value of Swiss milk will fall and we can't accept that." Switzerland's milk goes into about 700 different varieties of cheese, much of which is sold to neighboring countries. Imports of milk are normally allowed only if the Swiss supply runs short, which it hasn't.
There is normally a 76 cent per litre duty on imported milk, and that is what the dairy is asking a waiver for. The company hopes to use cheaper German milk for cheese that will then be exported to Germany: hence the desire for cheaper milk.
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