Swiss Cheese Union

The Swiss Cheese Union (SCU) was a government-sponsored cartel in Switzerland, established in the 1930s, to stabilize the country's cheese market. It coordinated production and set price levels among Swiss cheese producers, aiming to prevent price fluctuations and protect farmers' incomes. The SCU effectively restricted cheese supply, ensuring prices remained stable. Although it helped stabilize the market during challenging times, its monopolistic approach was controversial and eventually led to legal challenges and its dissolution in the 1990s, aligning with broader moves toward market liberalization and competition policies in Switzerland and the European Union.