GENEVA, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - Switzerland has asked the neighbouring European Union to grant protected status to its best known hole-less cheese, gruyere, after France made a similar bid for French-made cheeses bearing the same name and holes.

The Swiss agriculture department said it was trying to ensure that the hard cheese made in the western Swiss region of Gruyere benefitted from 'Protected Designation of Origin' status throughout the EU.

The official label ensures that only cheeses produced in a particular geographical area in a specific way can carry that name.