By Sally Murphy of RNZ
The cheese industry is setting up a group to help rename some New Zealand-made cheeses now the European Union Free Trade Deal has been ratified.
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent in Parliament on Monday and will come into force on May 1.
As part of the deal, almost 2000 EU geographical indications will be protected in New Zealand, including some common cheese names, like feta and gorgonzola.
New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers’ Association chairman Simon Lamb said they had seven years to come up with alternative names.