Protected Designation of Origin Information

The term PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) covers the term used to describe foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how.

We have applied for PDO status for ‘Yorkshire Wensleydale’. Only cheese made in the designated ‘Wensleydale’ area (as defined in the application), using raw materials from the designated area i.e. Wensleydale milk, to a time-honoured traditional recipe.

Our bid to protect Real Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese has moved into a significant new phase including a call to action for our supporters to add their voice to the campaign.

We have set up this special website page to allow you to register your support for the PDO application and place your comments on our website.

The PDO system aims to promote and protect food products in the EU and is used to describe foods that are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using traditional methods.

If the bid is successful it will mean that you will know you are eating the real thing - a hand-crafted Wensleydale cheese, made to a time-honoured recipe, using milk from local farms.

Real Yorkshire Wensleydale is the only Wensleydale actually made in Wensleydale.

The Wensleydale Creamery will continue to brand its cheese ‘Real Yorkshire Wensleydale’.

Date	Detail/Activity
4th Oct 2007	Application approved from UK perspective & submitted to Commission in Brussels
4th Oct 2007 – Dec 2008	Processing of application by the Commission
22nd May 2009	Comments / Response to Commissions questions submitted to the Commission.
27th Aug 2009	Received response from Defra / Commission – require further clarification on a couple of aspects of the application
Sept 2009	Comments / response to Commission
Oct / Nov 2009	Awaiting confirmation from Commission that application is OK to be published for the EU Consultation Period.
Dec 2009 – May 2010	EU Consultation Period: The Commission will publish the application in the ‘Official Journals’ for 6 months for relevant parties with the EU to comment
May 2010 – Aug 2010	Any comments will need to be dealt with

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Recent Comments:

My husband drives me mad when we go out for a meal. Won't have cheese and biscuits unless it is Wensleydale. It is suprising when asked, how many restaurants don't serve it.

By V. Wilson, Northallerton. 25th Feb 2010 in Northallerton on 25th Feb 2010

We never go on holiday without Wensleydale Cheese, including taking our caravan to France and Italy, can't beat it!

By Ken Wilson in \Northallerton, 25th Feb. 2010, on 25th Feb 2010

Christmas Cake and Wensleydale Cheese - WONDERFUL!

By C.W. Hermitage in Barnsley on 25th Feb 2010

Wensleydale Cheese should come from Wensleydale.

By Mrs P Hermitage in Barnsley on 25th Feb 2010

If it's not from Wensleydale, it shouldn't be called Wensleydale,

By Steve Askew in Thirsk on 24th Feb 2010

Wensleydale cheese is a very large assett to the Yorkshire Dales.
As a Bed & Breakfast owner it has put "Yorkshire" on the map!!!
As this is also global, we know our customers would only want the genuine article. There is no other....

By Mrs Susan Furby in Masham on 24th Feb 2010

In the late 70s i collected milk from all the farms around the upper dales and delivered it to the diary at Hawes, this is true WENSLYDALE CHEESE.. if the milk in the cheese is not local how can it be WENSLYDALE CHEESE. Thank you W & G for the support.

By James Gilyeat in Northallerton. North Yorkshire. on 24th Feb 2010

There's now't like it! So let's protect it with its proper name - Yorkshire Wensleydale.

By Brian and Thelma Bannister in North Ferriby, East Yorkshire on 24th Feb 2010

My grandparents made their living making Wensleydale cheese, and I feel I need to stick to my roots.

By Elisabeth Mannering in Isle of Wight on 24th Feb 2010

We want the best - no imitations not from Wensleydale.

By Brian Harris in Embsay, Skipton on 24th Feb 2010

We always buy real Wensleydale sometimes from Gayle. Never thought there was a substitue.

By R.I.Milner in Scruton, North Yorkshire on 24th Feb 2010

I wont eat anything else with my fruit cake

By Sarah Allport in London (formerly S Yorkshire) on 22nd Feb 2010

Real Wensleydale is a great British cheese that deserves protection from poor imitations.

By Mary Brown in Brussels, Belgium on 22nd Feb 2010

Brought up in the Yorkshire Dales and remember when the Hawes factory almost closed down but was saved by local support - with a little help from Wallace and Gromit. The cheese from Hawes has a unique flavour and i would like to see it achieve PDO status.

By Penny Mussell in East Sussex on 21st Feb 2010

Beautiful cheese, only right and proper it should be given the status you have requested, good luck to you

By Jane Hawes in hull on 21st Feb 2010

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