Canadian consumers will soon see fewer imported specialty cheeses on store shelves after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) banned imports of raw-milk cheeses from parts of Europe due to outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in cattle.
The ban applies to non-pasteurized cheeses produced on or after May 23, 2025 in France, Italy, and Switzerland, countries where the disease has been detected. The move will restrict imports of well-known varieties such as Brie de Meaux, Saint-Marcellin, Comté, Gruyère, Parmigiano Reggiano, Reblochon, and raw-milk goat cheeses.
Impact on Retailers
For Montreal specialty shop Fromagerie Maisonneuve, the restrictions could be devastating. Owner Ibrahim Abdelgawad, whose family has run the shop since 1985, said the ban strikes at the heart of their business:
“From what I understand from suppliers, it’s permanent — like in the United States, where raw-milk cheeses are banned. Canada may apply the same regulations. And it’s worrying because that’s our specialty,” he said.
While pasteurized alternatives exist, Abdelgawad stressed that protected designations mean products like Reblochon can no longer carry their name once pasteurized, altering their authenticity.
The Disease
According to the CFIA, lumpy skin disease is a viral infection in cattle characterized by fever and nodules on the skin. It spreads rapidly through biting insects such as mosquitoes, horse flies, and midges.
Although the virus does not infect humans, it has a severe impact on livestock health, production, and trade, prompting Ottawa to act swiftly to limit risks.
Consumer Choices
Abdelgawad said some of his most popular soft cheeses are already out of stock, with firm cheeses expected to run out in the coming months. His shop is recommending Quebec-made alternatives, but admits they cannot replicate centuries of European cheese-making tradition:
“Even if alternatives exist, customers don’t necessarily want them. Europe has thousands of years of tradition compared to maybe 50 years here. It’s not the same.”
The CFIA has not indicated how long the ban will remain in place.