B2B WHOLESALE · AOP / PDO FRENCH CHEESE· GLOBAL SOURCING
Source French AOP Cheese
B2B, Wholesale, Delivered Worldwide
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Agrilinkage is a sourcing and trade partner for businesses importing French AOP (PDO) cheeses at wholesale volume. We work with producers and affineurs across all producing regions of France, coordinate export documentation, and manage cold-chain logistics to your destination.
WHAT WE DO
A Sourcing Partner for the Global French Cheese Trade
Agrilinkage specialises in the B2B wholesale sourcing and international export of French AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) cheeses. Our team is based in France, works in French, and maintains direct access to producers, cooperatives, and affineurs across the country's main cheese-producing regions.
We manage the full chain between the French source and your receiving facility: identifying the right supplier for your product specifications, negotiating wholesale pricing, coordinating all required export documentation, and arranging temperature-controlled logistics to your destination port or warehouse.
The AOP certification system, governed by France's Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) and recognised at the European Union level as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), guarantees that each cheese is produced entirely within a defined geographic zone, using milk from that zone and traditional production methods. There are currently 46 AOP-certified cheeses in France, from Comté and Roquefort to Époisses, Camembert de Normandie, and Saint-Nectaire. This is the complete list.
End-to-End from French Producer to Your Market
Importing French cheese commercially is not a straightforward process. AOP producers operate under strict specifications and are not always set up for direct international sales. Export paperwork, health certificates, veterinary documentation, TRACES notifications, requires coordination with French official bodies. Logistics need to be temperature-controlled throughout. And destination-country import regulations vary significantly: raw milk rules, quotas, labelling requirements, and phytosanitary conditions differ from market to market.
Agrilinkage handles each of these steps. We engage with the supply side, producers, affineurs, cooperatives, in French and on your behalf. We manage the French export documentation process. We coordinate with freight partners experienced in perishable dairy, and we advise on your destination country's current import requirements before the order is placed.
The process starts with your sourcing requirements. From there, we assess what is achievable, bring the right suppliers into the conversation, and structure a clean proposal, product, pricing, logistics, and compliance, before anything moves forward.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Built for Buyers Who Source at Volume
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Importers & Distributors
Wholesale volumes with complete export documentation, health certificates, and cold-chain tracking. Ongoing supply management for recurring orders across multiple AOP references.
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Hotels & Hospitality Groups
Consistent supply of premium AOP cheeses for fine dining, room service, and events. Full documentation support matched to your country's dairy import requirements.
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Restaurants & Food Service Groups
Specific AOP cheese selections by region, affinage profile, or milk type. We accommodate menu-driven requirements and can work with your seasonal sourcing calendar.
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Specialty Retailers & Cheese Merchants
Curated AOP selections sourced from verified French producers and affineurs. Available in full wheel, half-wheel, portion, or pre-packaged formats depending on the cheese and supplier.
PROCESS
A Structured Sourcing Process, Step by Step
01
Requirements Assessment
You share your sourcing requirements, which AOP cheeses, formats, estimated volumes, frequency, destination country, and any certification or labelling requirements specific to your market. We review them in full before proceeding.
03
Documentation & Compliance
We coordinate all required French export paperwork, official health certificates, EUR.1 movement certificates, TRACES notifications, and any additional certifications required by your destination country's competent authority.
02
Supplier Engagement
Our France-based team contacts the relevant producers, cooperatives, or affineurs directly. We assess production schedules, available formats, and wholesale pricing, then present you with a clear sourcing proposal.
04
Cold-Chain & Delivery
Temperature-controlled logistics from the production site or affineur's cellar to your destination port or warehouse. We work with freight partners specialised in perishable dairy shipments and provide full cold-chain documentation.
AOP / PDO CHEESE DIRECTORY
The Complete List of 46 French AOP Cheeses
France holds 46 AOP cheese designations as of 2025, the highest number of any country in the EU. Each entry below includes the official milk type and producing region, sourced from INAO registration data. Use the filters to narrow by milk type or region.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Abondance
Haute-Savoie · Pressed uncooked (semi-hard)
Bleu d'Auvergne
Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, Haute-Loire · Blue-veined
Cantal
Cantal dept · Pressed uncooked; Jeune / Entre-Deux / Vieux
Fourme de Montbrison
Loire, Puy-de-Dôme · Blue-veined, cylindrical
Saint-Nectaire
Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal · Pressed uncooked, washed rind
Tome des Bauges
Savoie, Haute-Savoie · Pressed uncooked, natural rind
Beaufort
Savoie · Pressed cooked (hard, up to 70 kg wheel)
Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage
Drôme, Isère · Blue-veined, Massif du Vercors
Fourme d'Ambert
Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, Loire · Blue-veined, cylindrical
Reblochon
Haute-Savoie · Pressed uncooked, washed rind (soft)
Salers
Cantal · Pressed uncooked; farmhouse only, Apr 15–Nov 15
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Bleu de Gex (Haut-Jura)
Ain, Jura · Blue-veined, raw milk; Monts du Jura
Époisses
Côte-d'Or, Yonne, Haute-Marne · Soft, washed rind (Marc de Bourgogne)
Mont d'Or (Vacherin du Haut-Doubs)
Haut-Doubs · Soft, spruce-wrapped; seasonal (Aug 15 – Mar 15)
Comté
Doubs, Jura, Ain · Pressed cooked (hard, up to 40 kg wheel)
Langres
Haute-Marne (Plateau de Langres) · Soft, washed rind, sunken top
Morbier
Doubs, Ain, Jura · Pressed uncooked, distinctive ash layer
Normandy
Camembert de Normandie
Orne, Calvados, Eure, Manche · Soft, bloomy rind; raw milk only
Neufchâtel
Seine-Maritime · Soft, bloomy rind; various formats incl. heart-shaped
Livarot
Calvados, Eure, Orne · Soft, washed rind (Pays d'Auge)
Pont-l'Évêque
Calvados, Eure, Orne · Soft, washed rind, square format
Occitanie
Bleu des Causses
Aveyron, Lot, Lozère · Blue-veined, cave-ripened
Laguiole
Aveyron (Aubrac plateau) · Pressed uncooked, large cylindrical wheel
Grand Est · Hauts-de-France · Île-de-France
Brie de Meaux
Seine-et-Marne & surrounding depts · Soft, bloomy rind; raw milk only
Chaource
Aube, Yonne · Soft, bloomy rind, cylindrical
Munster
Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, Vosges · Soft, washed rind, Alsace / Lorraine
Brie de Melun
Seine-et-Marne, Yonne, Aube · Soft, bloomy rind; raw milk only
Maroilles
Aisne, Nord · Soft, washed rind, square (Hauts-de-France)
Our Scope
What We Manage on Your Behalf
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Producer & Affineur Identification
We identify and approach producers, farmhouse makers, cooperatives, and cave affineurs for the specific AOP cheese, affinage level, and format you require. Our team communicates in French and works within established industry relationships.
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Wholesale Pricing & Availability
We engage on pricing and availability directly with the French supply side. Some AOP cheeses are subject to seasonal production schedules, Salers, for example, is produced only between mid-April and mid-November; Mont d'Or only between August and March. We factor these constraints into your planning from the start.
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Export Documentation
All dairy products exported from France require an official health certificate issued by the DGAL (Direction Générale de l'Alimentation). We coordinate this process, along with EUR.1 movement certificates for trade agreement purposes, TRACES notifications, and any destination-specific certificates issued by French official veterinary authorities.
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Cold-Chain Logistics
Temperature-controlled transport from the production site or affinage cellar through to your destination port or warehouse. We coordinate with freight partners with operational experience in perishable dairy exports and full cold-chain documentation.
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Destination-Country Import Compliance
Dairy import rules differ significantly across markets, raw milk restrictions, quota systems, mandatory certifications, and labelling requirements vary by country. We review your specific destination's current requirements before any order is placed, not after.
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Recurring Supply Management
For ongoing clients, we maintain the supplier relationship, monitor production calendars, flag seasonality constraints in advance, and manage re-orders to prevent supply gaps.
IMPORT & COMPLIANCE
What Importing French AOP Cheese Requires
Commercial dairy imports, particularly raw milk AOP cheeses, involve several layers of regulatory compliance on both the French export side and the destination-country import side. Here is an accurate overview of what is typically involved.
Official Health Certificate (DGAL)
All dairy exports from France require an official health certificate issued by the DGAL (Direction Générale de l'Alimentation), the French Ministry of Agriculture's food and veterinary authority. The format and content of this certificate is determined by the destination country. For many markets, the certificate must be validated by a French official veterinarian and may require country-specific templates agreed between France and the importing country.
Raw Milk & Pasteurisation Requirements
76% of French AOP cheeses are currently made from unpasteurised (raw) milk, as required or permitted under their INAO production specifications. Several key AOP cheeses, Camembert de Normandie, Brie de Meaux, Brie de Melun, Roquefort, require raw milk under their production rules. Import eligibility in each destination market depends on that market's raw milk regulations, minimum aging requirements, and inspection history. We assess this before any sourcing is initiated for raw milk references.
Cold-Chain Requirements & Documentation
French AOP cheeses are perishable goods requiring continuous refrigeration, typically 2–8°C for most soft and semi-soft varieties, 0–4°C for certain fresh cheeses, from the production site through to the point of receipt. Many destination countries require formal cold-chain documentation as part of the import declaration. We work with temperature-controlled carriers and provide this documentation as standard.
Destination Labelling Requirements
AOP cheeses carry mandatory labelling under EU Regulation 1151/2012, including the registered name, the EU PDO logo, and country-of-origin indication. Many destination markets additionally require local-language labelling, specific allergen declarations, or importer details on the final label. We review destination-country labelling rules, including any requirements for nutritional tables, date formats, or language, before packaging specifications are finalised.
Facility Registration Requirements
Several markets, including the United States (FDA Food Facility Registration under FSMA), China (GACC Overseas Enterprise Registration), and others, require the foreign manufacturer or exporter to be registered with the destination country's competent authority. We advise on whether facility registration is required for your specific suppliers and assist in coordinating the relevant applications where needed.
TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System)
All animal-origin products exported from the EU, including cheese, must be notified through the TRACES system (European Commission's online platform for animal and food safety certifications). This generates the required CHED-P (Common Health Entry Document for Products) used by the destination country's border inspection posts. We manage all TRACES notifications as part of the standard process for each shipment.
EUR.1 Movement Certificate & Preferential Origin
For destinations where France benefits from an EU trade agreement, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, and others, an EUR.1 Movement Certificate or an origin declaration confirms French origin and allows reduced or zero import duty rates under the applicable preferential trade arrangement. We coordinate the issuance of origin documentation for every shipment where preferential treatment applies.
Tariffs, Quotas & HS Classification
Cheese imports are classified under HS chapter 04.06. Applicable tariff rates vary significantly by destination and cheese type, and some markets apply tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for EU cheese. We provide the correct HS code for each AOP cheese in your order, this affects both the tariff rate and the applicable import health certificate template. Correct HS classification avoids delays at customs and ensures preferential rate eligibility where applicable.
Veterinary & Phytosanitary Status
Destination countries may place conditions on dairy imports based on the current animal health status of the exporting region. Disease outbreaks, such as Lumpy Skin Disease, Foot and Mouth, or Bluetongue, can affect a region's approved status for dairy exports to specific markets. We monitor active phytosanitary alerts and advise accordingly, as these can affect specific producing departments or the entire French territory depending on the importing country's response.
KEY IMPORT MARKETS
French AOP Cheese: Principal Destination Markets
France exported approximately €4 billion worth of cheese in 2023, ranking as the world's fourth largest cheese exporter. The markets below represent the most significant destinations for French cheese outside the EU, each with distinct regulatory frameworks governing dairy imports.
United States
Regulatory authority: FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA APHIS for animal health oversight.
Key requirement: 60-day raw milk rule: Under 21 CFR Part 133, raw milk cheese must be aged a minimum of 60 days before sale in the US. This directly affects several iconic AOP cheeses. Camembert de Normandie, Brie de Meaux, Brie de Melun, and certain other soft raw milk cheeses have aging periods below 60 days under their AOP production specifications and cannot be imported in raw milk form. Hard raw milk cheeses aged beyond 60 days, Comté, Beaufort, Cantal Vieux, Roquefort, are routinely imported.
Other requirements: FDA food facility registration for the French manufacturer or exporter under FSMA. Prior Notice submission via the FDA PNSI system before shipment arrives. Official health certificate from DGAL. Tariff-rate quotas apply under the WTO schedule; some AOP cheeses have preferential quota access. US tariffs on EU cheese were subject to additional measures in 2025, we advise on current rates at the time of each order.
United Kingdom
Regulatory authority: APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Post-Brexit framework: Since January 2021, the UK operates a separate customs and regulatory regime from the EU. French cheese exports to the UK require a UK-specific health certificate, distinct from the EU TRACES/CHED system. APHIS issues Export Health Certificates (EHCs) for exports to Great Britain; these must follow UK APHA-approved templates.
Geographical Indications: French AOP cheese names are protected in the UK under the UK GI scheme, which recognised EU GI registrations that existed before Brexit. Roquefort, Comté, Brie de Meaux, and all other AOP cheeses retain their protected status and associated naming rights in the UK market.
Raw milk: The UK applies no minimum aging requirement for raw milk cheese equivalent to the US 60-day rule. Soft raw milk AOP cheeses are importable subject to standard health certificate compliance.
Japan
Regulatory authority: Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) under MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for food sanitation.
Key requirements: Dairy products including cheese require an official AQS inspection certificate from the French export authority confirming the product meets Japan's animal health import conditions. Cheese is classified under HS 0406 and is subject to both AQS animal quarantine inspection and MHLW food sanitation inspection at the Japanese port of entry.
Labelling: Japanese Food Labeling Act requires Japanese-language labelling with specific mandatory fields, product name, ingredients, allergens, best-before date, storage conditions, importer name and address. This typically means label translation and application before final retail distribution.
Trade agreement: The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), in force since 2019, provides reduced tariff rates on EU cheese imports into Japan within defined quotas. Many French AOP cheeses benefit from this arrangement, subject to EUR.1 origin documentation.
Canada
Regulatory authority: CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Quota system: Canada operates a supply-managed dairy system with strict import quota controls. Commercial imports of cheese are subject to tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) administered by Global Affairs Canada. Imports within quota receive a substantially lower tariff rate than over-quota imports, which are subject to tariffs above 200%.
CETA access: Under the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the EU received a dedicated cheese quota of 16,000 tonnes annually at reduced tariff rates. This quota is allocated to EU exporters through the European Commission. Access to CETA quota allocation is a prerequisite for commercially viable French cheese exports to Canada.
Raw milk: Canada does not apply the US 60-day raw milk aging requirement. Raw milk AOP cheeses are importable subject to CFIA health certificate compliance and standard microbiological criteria.
Australia
Regulatory authority: DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand).
Raw milk restriction: Australia applies strict biosecurity conditions to imported dairy products. Raw milk cheese is not generally permitted for import unless it meets specific heat treatment requirements, or unless the importing business has obtained a special import permit following a risk assessment. This is one of the most restrictive raw milk frameworks among major French cheese markets. Pasteurised AOP cheese variants, where production specifications permit, can be imported under standard conditions.
Phytosanitary status: Australia's approved country status list for dairy is subject to ongoing review based on animal disease alerts. Outbreaks of diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in France can affect the approved status for specific dairy product categories. We monitor DAFF alerts and advise on any active restrictions affecting French dairy at the time of sourcing.
Import permit: An import permit from DAFF is required for most dairy products. The permit specifies the treatment conditions and documentation required for the specific product category.
Singapore
Regulatory authority: Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
Market profile: Singapore is one of the most open and commercially accessible markets in Asia for European food imports. No import licence is required for most cheese categories, and there are no tariffs on food imports, making it an efficient entry point for French AOP cheeses into the Southeast Asian market and wider Asia-Pacific distribution networks.
Requirements: Official health certificate from the French DGAL confirming the product meets SFA's food safety standards. Singapore's Sale of Food Act and Food Regulations apply, labelling requirements include product name, ingredients, net weight, country of origin, and importer details in English. No minimum aging requirement for raw milk cheese applies under Singapore food law.
Labelling: All pre-packed food must comply with SFA labelling requirements. Allergen declarations (milk, and for cheeses produced near nut-handling facilities) must be clearly stated. Shelf-life dating must follow Singapore's date format conventions.
UAE & Gulf Region (GCC)
Regulatory authority: UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE); Gulf Standards Organisation (GSO) for harmonised GCC food standards.
Halal certification: Most commercial importers and retailers in the UAE and wider GCC markets require halal certification for imported food products, including dairy. Many French AOP cheese producers hold halal certification; we verify this on a producer-by-producer basis. Without halal certification, sales into mainstream retail channels in GCC markets are typically not viable.
GCC standards: Gulf Cooperation Council countries apply harmonised food standards developed by the GSO. Cheese imports must comply with GSO standard GSO 1016 (general requirements for cheese) and GSO 2055 (general requirements for food additives), among others. Labelling must be in Arabic for the UAE and most GCC markets, in addition to any other language.
Import process: Official health certificate from DGAL required. Some GCC countries also require an import permit from the relevant national food authority. Cold-chain integrity documentation is closely scrutinised at Gulf ports of entry.
China
Regulatory authority: GACC (General Administration of Customs of China) for import inspection; SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation) for food safety standards.
Overseas facility registration: French cheese producers exporting to China must be registered with GACC as an approved overseas dairy production facility. This registration is product-category specific and is submitted through the French competent authority (DGAL) to GACC. Only products from GACC-registered facilities can legally enter Chinese customs.
Health certificate: A China-specific health certificate template agreed between DGAL and GACC is required for each shipment. The certificate must accompany all dairy imports and is inspected at the Chinese port of entry.
Labelling: All pre-packaged food sold in China must carry Chinese-language labels complying with GB 7718 (General Standard for Food Labelling). Labels must be applied before customs clearance, imported products reaching the consumer without a compliant Chinese label face refusal or recall.
Market note: China is a fast-growing market for European cheese. Tariff rates apply; EU cheese does not currently benefit from a preferential trade agreement with China for dairy. GACC facility registration can take several months to complete.
SUBMIT AN INQUIRY
Share Your Sourcing Requirements
Provide the details of what you're looking for below. We review every inquiry and respond with a structured overview of what we can source, at what volume, and what the end-to-end process looks like for your specific destination.
We only engage with serious wholesale inquiries. Agrilinkage operates exclusively at professional B2B level. We do not handle retail or consumer orders, and we work with minimum volumes consistent with the operational reality of international dairy logistics.
All inquiries are subject to review. We verify the business details provided, including company name and email domain, before responding. Submitting this form does not create any commercial commitment on either side, but it does allow us to assess whether your requirements are a fit for what we do.
+ 33 745 22 80 66
BASE OF OPERATIONS
Paris, France — Île-de-France
