Protected Designation of Origin Queso Zamorano : New regulations

The European Union’s Commission adopted the final modification in the Protected Designation of Origin Queso Zamorano (sheep cheese from Zamora) rules. The Official Publication of the E.U. published the final Adoption of the Rules of the Queso Zamorano DOP last week.

This modification started in August of 2011 after the unanimity adoption of this new regulation. In February 2013, ruled by decree of the Institute of Agrarian Technology of Castille and Leon, a transitional national protection had been accepted. It has permitted  the application of this new regulation, now approved by the European Commission.

Sheep churra breed

Find below the main modifications :

– Concerning the product, from now it is possible to name a cheese Queso Zamorano, a cheese which have a milk from the young ewe which has a Churra or Castellana breed mother and a Assaf breed father. The Regulation Council has established strict controls. This modification can be justify by a marked establishment of the Assaf breed in the area in the last 30 years. Studies have proved that the milk of this breed respect the characteristics of quality of the Queso Zamorano. Furthermore, the causal relationship between the product and the geographical location is the same. The feeding is also the same.
– From now, it is possible to grate the cheese, cut slices and individual portion.
– Widening of the rind color range
– The characteristics of the raw materials and of the production process adapted to the New Technologies
– The percentage of fat dropped from 7% to 6,5% and the dry extract dropped from 17,5% to 17%. Due to seasonal changes of the milk, the average of fat and dry extract know fluctuations with the passing months. But it does not affect the quality of the cheese.
– The temperature and the curdling time ranges have been modified. This changes are possible thanks to the technological evolution of the production.
-Etc…

Cheese from Zamora

This rules have already been applied for the production of 2014 thanks to the transitional national protection. During this year, 1.6 million liters of milk have been collected and 314 tons of cheese from Zamora have been produced. This quantity is not enough to give to the Queso Zamorano DOP the presence that it deserves in the domestic market and to permit to conquer the international market.

This new modifications grants the Regulation Council to use a new tool which will permit to reach ambitious goals in collaboration with sheep farmers, manufacturers, Public Organisations and Institutions Zamora.

“This is a new era for this Queso Zamorano DOP which represents Zamora and its population. We have to work together to improve our future and to publicize our land to the world. Go for it !”
Jesús Cruz Martín
President of the Regulatio Council of the Queso Zamorano DOP
Co-director of the company GESTION AGRO GANADERA S.L. – QUESERIA LA ANTIGUA DE FUENTESAUCO