PRIME Minister Tony Blair was to be confronted today over a European ruling which prevents a North Yorkshire cheese-maker marketing its product as feta.
Later editions of the Evening Press yesterday reported how Shepherd's Purse cheeses, in Thirsk, had until 2007 to re-brand its "Yorkshire Feta" cheese, after the EU ruled only Greece had a right to the name. The feta brand is worth 15 per cent of the firm's £1million turnover.
Today, North Yorkshire Tory Euro MP Edward McMillan-Scott, vice-president of the European Parliament, was due to hand a letter calling for a change in the law to Mr Blair when he visits the Strasbourg assembly today.
Mr McMillan-Scott said Britain's refusal to join fellow feta producers in Germany and Denmark in contesting the ruling had weakened its case.
"The only answer now is to change the law," he said.
"The UK presidency can take the lead. Under the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy this is a decision that only Ministers can take, but I will continue to press from the European Parliament for good sense to prevail."
Updated: 12:03 Wednesday, October 26, 2005
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