France relaxes AOC production standards for Comté and Beaufort due to drought

French authorities have temporarily authorized supplemental feed for dairy cows producing Comté, Beaufort, and Abondance cheeses to mitigate the impact of severe drought on grazing pastures. This deviation from strict Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) standards aims to protect production volumes and producer livelihoods amid persistent climate-driven forage shortages.