Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to cheese whose milk origin is exclusively buffalo and that leaves the reporting factory as fresh/unripened cheese, ripened cheese, or processed cheese for direct consumption or further processing. It covers bulk, retail, food-service, brined, unbrined, unpackaged, and packaged market states when the declared reference product and foreground records identify the applicable state.

The category is milk-species specific. The foreground data package shall demonstrate buffalo origin for every milk and milk-derived input. A product containing milk, cream, curd, cheese, milkfat, milk solids, whey material, or another milk-derived ingredient from cattle, sheep, goats, or another non-buffalo species is not automatically covered. It requires an explicit classification determination based on the product as supplied and all contributing animal species; until that determination is documented, this PCR shall not be used as an exact category rule.

Products that are not cheese, plant-based analogues, whey products sold separately, cheese made exclusively from non-buffalo milk, and mixed-milk cheeses without an accepted category determination are excluded. Farm production of buffalo milk and production of purchased ingredients or packaging are represented by upstream datasets rather than repeated inside the cheese factory foreground boundary.

Codex product standards are used here to identify and describe applicable cheese states and dairy-origin claims. Their composition, quality, hygiene, additive, and labelling provisions are not converted into default life-cycle inventory quantities, yields, recipes, loss factors, energy demands, or emission factors. All such quantities shall come from site- and batch-specific records unless this PCR explicitly provides an applicable method formula.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.dairy-products-and-egg-products.cheese-from-milk-of-buffalo-fresh-or-processed
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 22252, Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed (unsd-cpc-3-0)
covered_products	Cheese made exclusively from buffalo milk and buffalo milk-derived ingredients; fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed; brined or unbrined; with declared ingredients and packaging state
excluded_products	Cheese containing any non-buffalo milk-derived input unless a separate documented classification decision establishes applicability; non-cheese dairy products; plant-based analogues; separately marketed whey products
representative_product	Factory-gate buffalo-milk cheese in the declared product state
production_route	Receipt and verification of buffalo milk and milk-derived materials; preparation and cheesemaking; draining, salting or brining as applicable; ripening or processed-cheese manufacture as applicable; packaging and factory storage as applicable
market_state	Declare fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed; brined or unbrined; ingredient/formulation state; packaged or unpackaged; storage condition; and net-mass basis

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Buffalo-milk cheese in the declared fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed market state
How much	1 kg net cheese product at the reporting factory gate
How well	Conforms to the declared product specification and buffalo-only milk-origin claim; no product-quality threshold is used as an LCI factor
How long or cycle	One completed production lot through the declared factory-gate release point, including ripening, brining, packaging, and factory storage only when applicable
reference_flow_link	The functional unit is realized by the single Tiangong product flow and mass reference object below

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed 4b760369-5f64-47c7-b922-9dbe4b8abf98
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	milk animal species and buffalo-only evidence; mixed-milk determination if triggered; cheese state as fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed; named variety or product specification; salt and brine state; ingredients and processing aids; packaging format and packaged/unpackaged state; reference net-mass basis; factory-gate storage condition; production lot and reporting period

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
measurement_reference_mass	reference cheese output	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Measure the released reference cheese on the declared net-product basis. Exclude packaging mass and separately present free brine from the 1 kg cheese reference amount; inventory them separately. If commercial records use another basis, retain the original record and document the conversion.
measurement_milk_species	milk and milk-derived inputs	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Record each animal species and supplier lot separately. Do not merge non-buffalo milk-derived material into a generic milk total; any non-buffalo quantity triggers the mixed-milk classification rule.
measurement_product_state	reference product and intermediate cheese	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Preserve the measured state at each weighing point and declare whether mass is before or after draining, salting/brining, ripening, processing, and packaging. Do not apply a standard moisture, yield, or retention factor.
measurement_brine	salt and brine inputs and outputs	Mass or volume with measured density	kg or m3	Record make-up salt, make-up water, purchased brine, recirculated internal brine, purge, carry-over, and wastewater separately. Convert volume to mass only with batch- or period-specific density evidence.
measurement_energy	electricity, fuels, steam, heat, cooling, and compressed air	Delivered energy or physical carrier quantity	kWh, MJ, kg, or m3 as recorded	Retain original meter or invoice units and conversion factors. Allocate common utilities only after separately metered process use has been exhausted; do not use a generic cheese-energy factor.
measurement_packaging	primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging	Mass or item count with measured item mass	kg	Record packaging by material and format. Convert item counts to mass using supplier specifications or measured lot-average item mass, and keep packaging outside the net cheese reference mass.

5. System Boundary

The foreground boundary begins when buffalo milk and other purchased materials are received at the reporting cheese facility. It includes identity checks and reception, storage and preparation of milk, thermal treatment or standardisation when performed, coagulation and curd handling, whey separation, salting or brining, ripening, processed-cheese operations, packaging, factory storage, cleaning, refrigeration, on-site utility use, direct emissions, waste handling, and on-site wastewater treatment when these activities serve the declared product. Upstream production of buffalo milk, ingredients, energy carriers, water, packaging, and purchased services is represented by linked supplier-specific or appropriate secondary datasets. Distribution after the declared factory gate, retail, consumer use, and end-of-life are outside this foreground dataset unless a downstream lifecycle model adds them transparently.

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Buffalo milk and all other milk-derived inputs received at the reporting facility, identified by supplier, lot, animal species, physical state, and quantity
starting_condition_role	Upstream product inputs with linked production datasets; the cheese factory foreground starts at receipt
product_classification_scope	Buffalo-only cheese in CPC 3.0 subclass 22252; the cheese state may be fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed when declared
recursive_input_rule	Purchased buffalo cheese or curd used to make the reference product is recorded as an input with its own upstream dataset and is not recursively recreated inside this foreground dataset. Purchased mixed-species cheese or curd triggers classification determination before use of this PCR.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link buffalo milk, purchased buffalo cheese/curd, other ingredients, energy, water, packaging, and external treatment or transport services to temporally, geographically, and technologically representative upstream datasets; disclose proxies
disclosure	Declare animal-species evidence, milk and milk-derived ingredient composition, cheese state, salt/brine state, ingredients and aids, packaging state, net-mass basis, facility and lot coverage, co-products, allocation, exclusions, and all upstream proxies

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_buffalo_origin	all milk and milk-derived inputs	Include this product category only when supplier and batch evidence supports buffalo origin for every milk-derived input. Any non-buffalo input triggers an explicit classification determination before modelling proceeds.	codex-cxs-206-1999; unsd-cpc-3-0
boundary_route_state	foreground process selection	Include only process modules actually used by the declared route, but do not omit ripening, brining, processing, packaging, cold storage, cleaning, refrigeration, waste, or wastewater activities when they occur.	codex-cxs-283-1978; codex-cxs-221-2001; eu-fdm-bat-2019
boundary_upstream_links	purchased inputs and services	Represent production of received materials and purchased services with linked upstream datasets rather than duplicating them in the cheese factory foreground.	eu-pef-2021
boundary_bat_applicability	application of EU FDM BAT evidence	Use EU FDM BAT requirements or performance information only when the reporting installation and operating basis fall within the Decision's stated scope and the cited dairy condition applies. Never transfer facility-level or product-quality values into a universal cheese LCI.	eu-fdm-bat-2019

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
milk_reception_preparation	Buffalo milk reception and preparation	required	Always included	Foreground receipt, identity control, storage, and preparation	kg buffalo milk and milk-derived material received by lot
cheesemaking_separation	Cheesemaking and whey separation	required	Always included	Foreground coagulation, curd handling, draining, salting, and separation	kg cheese output and co-products by batch
ripening_brining	Ripening and brining	conditional	Include when the declared product is ripened or held in brine, or when brine management occurs	Foreground maturation, brine management, storage, and losses	kg cheese entering and leaving the operation by batch
processed_cheese_manufacture	Processed-cheese manufacture	conditional	Include when the declared reference product is processed cheese	Foreground blending, heating/emulsifying, forming, and cooling	kg processed cheese output by batch
packaging_factory_storage	Packaging and factory storage	conditional	Include when packaging or storage occurs before the declared factory gate	Foreground packing, refrigeration, and release	kg net cheese released and packaging used
cleaning_wastewater	Cleaning and on-site wastewater or waste handling	required	Always include cleaning; include on-site treatment operations that serve the product	Foreground support and environmental control	allocated activity and outputs per reporting period

Process: Buffalo milk reception and preparation (milk_reception_preparation)

Inputs

Product flows

Buffalo milk and buffalo milk-derived materials received (buffalo_milk_inputs)

Record each supplier lot of buffalo milk, cream, milk solids, or other buffalo milk-derived material that crosses the facility boundary. Keep animal-species evidence and physical state with the quantity record.

• Selected flow: Buffalo milk or applicable buffalo milk-derived product; use the exact Tiangong flow selected for the supplier material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted mass by supplier lot and material state
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_milk_origin_receipts
• Sources: codex-cxs-206-1999

Water used in milk preparation (preparation_water)

Record water added to product or used directly in preparation separately from cleaning water.

• Selected flow: Process water matched to the site supply
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3 or Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch use; no default quantity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Electricity and thermal utilities for receipt and preparation (preparation_energy)

Record metered electricity and delivered fuels, steam, heat, cooling, or compressed air used for receiving, storage, pumping, thermal treatment, separation, or standardisation.

• Selected flow: Site-specific electricity and energy-carrier flows
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ; carrier mass or volume in original record unit
• Amount rule: measured process use or documented allocation from common meters; no default quantity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Waste flows

Rejected milk or reception residues (rejected_milk)

Record rejected, spilled, or discarded milk-derived material by fate; do not net it against accepted input.

• Selected flow: Rejected milk or applicable organic waste flow matched to actual fate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured rejected or lost mass by lot and destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared buffalo milk for cheesemaking (prepared_buffalo_milk)

Track the internal prepared-milk quantity and state to support batch mass balance; it does not cross the product system boundary when consumed on site.

• Selected flow: Internal prepared buffalo milk
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass by batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per batch transferred to cheesemaking
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_mass_balance
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Process: Cheesemaking and whey separation (cheesemaking_separation)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared buffalo milk (cheesemaking_milk)

Record prepared buffalo milk entering the vat by batch and preserve its link to reception lots.

• Selected flow: Internal prepared buffalo milk
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured vat input mass by batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per cheesemaking batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_mass_balance
• Sources: codex-cxs-283-1978

Cultures, coagulants, salt, ingredients, and processing aids (cheesemaking_ingredients)

Record every material added to the cheese, curd, surface, or process, including starter cultures, coagulating agents, salt, permitted ingredients, additives, and processing aids. Preserve ingredient function and whether material remains in product, co-product, wastewater, or waste.

• Selected flow: Ingredient- and formulation-specific product flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg or original auditable purchasing unit
• Amount rule: batch issue or dosing record; no standard recipe or retention factor
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_ingredient_dosing_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-283-1978; codex-cxs-221-2001

Cheesemaking water and utilities (cheesemaking_water_energy)

Record process water, electricity, heat, steam, cooling, and compressed air consumed in cheesemaking, curd handling, and separation.

• Selected flow: Site-specific water and utility flows
• Flow property / unit: Volume, mass, or energy in original auditable units
• Amount rule: measured process use or documented common-meter allocation; no default quantity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_energy_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Waste flows

Cheesemaking losses and off-specification material (cheesemaking_waste)

Record curd fines, spilled material, filters, and off-specification cheese separately by treatment or recovery route.

• Selected flow: Waste flow matched to material and actual management route
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or mass-balance-reconciled waste by batch or reporting period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Buffalo-milk cheese before conditional finishing (primary_cheese_output)

Measure cheese leaving the primary cheesemaking step and identify whether it is released as fresh cheese or transferred to ripening, brining, processed-cheese manufacture, or packaging.

• Selected flow: Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed 4b760369-5f64-47c7-b922-9dbe4b8abf98
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch output at the declared transfer state; no default yield
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per cheesemaking batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_release_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-283-1978; codex-cxs-221-2001

Whey and other milk-derived co-products (whey_coproducts)

Record whey, cream, whey cream, or recovered milk solids as separate product outputs only when they leave the process for beneficial use and meet the declared destination specification.

• Selected flow: Co-product-specific flow matched to actual state and destination
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured output mass by batch and destination; no default whey yield
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per cheesemaking batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_coproduct_records
• Sources:

Waste flows

Whey sent to waste treatment (whey_to_treatment)

Whey without a beneficial product destination is a waste output and shall not be reported as a co-product.

• Selected flow: Whey waste matched to actual treatment route
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or reconciled mass by batch and destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per cheesemaking batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_coproduct_records
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Process: Ripening and brining (ripening_brining)

Inputs

Product flows

Cheese entering ripening or brining (ripening_input_cheese)

Record cheese mass and state at entry and link it to the originating batch.

• Selected flow: Internal buffalo-milk cheese
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured entry mass by batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per ripening or brining batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_ripening_brining_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-283-1978

Brine, salt, water, and ripening utilities (ripening_brine_utilities)

Record brine make-up and purge constituents, washing or surface-treatment materials, electricity, cooling, heat, and humidity-control utilities used during the declared operation.

• Selected flow: Material- and utility-specific flows matched to site supply
• Flow property / unit: Mass, volume, or energy in original auditable units
• Amount rule: measured batch or period use, with recirculated internal brine excluded from new external input
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg cheese leaving ripening or brining
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_ripening_brining_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-283-1978; eu-fdm-bat-2019

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Ripened or brined buffalo-milk cheese (ripened_brined_cheese)

Record cheese mass, ripening duration, brine state, and release condition. Free brine accompanying the market product remains a separately inventoried material and is not included in net cheese mass.

• Selected flow: Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed 4b760369-5f64-47c7-b922-9dbe4b8abf98
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured released cheese mass by batch; no standard aging-loss factor
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per ripening or brining batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_release_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-283-1978

Waste flows

Brine purge and ripening losses (brine_ripening_waste)

Record spent brine, surface material, trim, and spoiled cheese separately by fate.

• Selected flow: Waste flow matched to material state and destination
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg or Volume / m3
• Amount rule: measured batch or reporting-period output; no default loss factor
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg cheese leaving ripening or brining
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Elementary flows

Process: Processed-cheese manufacture (processed_cheese_manufacture)

Inputs

Product flows

Buffalo cheese and declared formulation inputs (processed_cheese_inputs)

Record each cheese, dairy ingredient, water, salt, emulsifying salt, additive, and other formulation input by batch. Every milk-derived input remains subject to the buffalo-only rule.

• Selected flow: Ingredient-specific flow; buffalo cheese uses the reference product flow when applicable
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch formulation quantity; no standard recipe
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg processed cheese output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_processed_cheese_batch_records
• Sources: codex-cxs-206-1999

Processing electricity and thermal energy (processed_cheese_energy)

Record energy for blending, heating/emulsifying, forming, and cooling from meters or documented common-utility allocation.

• Selected flow: Site-specific electricity and energy-carrier flows
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ; carrier quantity in original record unit
• Amount rule: measured batch or reporting-period use; no default quantity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg processed cheese output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Processed buffalo-milk cheese output (processed_cheese_output)

Measure finished processed cheese and retain the complete formulation and animal-species evidence.

• Selected flow: Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed 4b760369-5f64-47c7-b922-9dbe4b8abf98
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch output; no default conversion yield
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per processed-cheese batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_release_records
• Sources:

Waste flows

Processed-cheese residues and off-specification product (processed_cheese_waste)

Record residues and off-specification outputs by recovery, rework, or waste route without netting them against product output.

• Selected flow: Waste or rework flow matched to actual destination
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch output by fate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per processed-cheese batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Process: Packaging and factory storage (packaging_factory_storage)

Inputs

Product flows

Packaging materials (packaging_materials)

Record primary, secondary, and allocated tertiary packaging by material, format, supplier, and batch or reporting period.

• Selected flow: Packaging-material-specific product flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured issue quantity or item count converted with supplier or measured item mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources:

Packaging and storage utilities (packaging_storage_energy)

Record electricity, heat, cooling, compressed air, and other utilities used before factory-gate release.

• Selected flow: Site-specific utility flow
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ; carrier quantity in original record unit
• Amount rule: measured process use or documented common-meter allocation; no default quantity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Waste flows

Packaging waste and damaged product (packaging_waste)

Record unused or damaged packaging and product losses separately by material and destination.

• Selected flow: Waste flow matched to material and treatment route
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured reporting-period output
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_records
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Refrigerant emissions from factory cooling (refrigerant_emissions)

Calculate direct refrigerant emissions from verified additions, recoveries, stock changes, and equipment records for the product-serving cooling system.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant-specific elementary emission flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: calculated loss by refrigerant from collected service and stock records
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_records
• Sources: eu-pef-2021

Outputs

Product flows

Factory-gate reference cheese (reference_cheese_output)

This is the declared fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed buffalo-milk cheese released at the factory gate on the net cheese mass basis.

• Selected flow: Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed 4b760369-5f64-47c7-b922-9dbe4b8abf98
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured net released product mass; normalize all inventory to 1 kg
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_release_records
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Process: Cleaning and on-site wastewater or waste handling (cleaning_wastewater)

Inputs

Product flows

Cleaning water, chemicals, and treatment materials (cleaning_treatment_inputs)

Record cleaning-in-place and other sanitation water, detergents, disinfectants, and on-site wastewater or waste-treatment materials serving the modelled production.

• Selected flow: Material-specific site supply flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg or Volume / m3
• Amount rule: measured use by system or documented allocation from reporting-period totals
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_treatment_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Wastewater, sludge, and treatment residues (wastewater_residues)

Record wastewater volume and relevant loads, plus sludge and other residues, at the actual hand-off or emission point. Keep diverted whey, brine, and product losses visible rather than hiding them in a generic wastewater total.

• Selected flow: Wastewater or residue flow matched to actual treatment and destination
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3, Mass / kg, and measured pollutant load as applicable
• Amount rule: measured discharge and laboratory or treatment records; no default discharge factor
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Elementary flows

Direct air and water emissions from on-site operations (direct_site_emissions)

Record measured or calculated elementary emissions from boilers, refrigeration, wastewater treatment, and other included site operations by substance and method.

• Selected flow: Substance- and compartment-specific elementary flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: site measurement or calculation from collected operating records and an applicable documented method
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net reference cheese output
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_emission_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivision_first	shared operations and utilities	Avoid allocation by separately metering or otherwise subdividing reception, cheesemaking, ripening/brining, processed-cheese manufacture, packaging, storage, cleaning, and treatment activities whenever the records permit.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_internal_recycling	internal whey, curd, brine, rework, and recovered heat	Model internal recirculation once and do not create a co-product credit for material or energy that does not cross the product system boundary.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_coproduct_status	whey and other milk-derived outputs	Treat an output as a co-product only when it leaves for documented beneficial use and has an upstream-recognised product function; otherwise model it as waste to its actual treatment route.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_residual_burdens	cheese and co-products after subdivision	If subdivision or a defensible physical causal relation cannot resolve shared burdens, use a documented allocation basis consistent across the reporting period, disclose quantities and prices or physical parameters, and test sensitivity to an alternative relevant basis. Do not prescribe a universal whey or cheese allocation factor.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_waste_treatment	waste and wastewater treatment	Assign treatment inputs, direct emissions, and residues to the generating processes where traceable; otherwise allocate the common system using measured causal drivers such as wastewater volume and pollutant load, and disclose the method.	eu-fdm-bat-2019

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_milk_origin_receipts	milk_reception_preparation	milk and milk-derived inputs	supplier delivery, certificate, and receiving record	supplier; lot; material; animal species; milk origin claim; mass; physical state; acceptance; date	reconcile receiving scale or calibrated meter with supplier documents and identity evidence	kg	every delivery lot	all lots in reporting period	all supplying sites and reporting facility	sum accepted mass by material, species, lot, and state; never merge species before classification check	calibrated measurement; supplier certificate; lot traceability; exception log
cp_ingredient_dosing_records	cheesemaking_separation	ingredients and processing aids	recipe issue, dosing, and stock record	batch; material; supplier lot; animal species where milk-derived; issued mass; returned mass; function	reconcile batch dosing with inventory movement and formulation	kg or original unit	every batch	representative production period including all declared products	reporting facility	net issued quantity by batch and ingredient; preserve fate and milk species	approved formulation; scale calibration; stock reconciliation
cp_water_records	milk_reception_preparation	preparation water	meter, batch sheet, and invoice	meter; start; end; batch; use; source; density if converted	direct meter preferred; documented allocation only for unmetered common supply	m3 or kg	every batch or meter interval	full reporting period	reporting facility	subtract verified non-product uses, then normalize to released cheese	meter calibration; reconciliation; allocation record
cp_water_energy_records	cheesemaking_separation	cheesemaking water and utilities	meter and operating record	utility; meter; start; end; batch; operating hours; carrier quantity	direct process metering or documented common-meter allocation	original meter unit	batch, shift, or meter interval	full reporting period	reporting facility	aggregate by utility and process, then normalize to released cheese	calibration; invoices; meter coverage; allocation key
cp_energy_utility_records	multiple	process utilities	meter, fuel invoice, and operating record	process; carrier; meter; start; end; purchase; stock change; conversion factor	reconcile submeter totals with facility purchases and stock changes	kWh, MJ, kg, or m3	meter interval and monthly reconciliation	full reporting period including seasonal storage	reporting facility	process use first; allocate residual common use with documented causal driver	calibration; invoices; stock reconciliation; conversion source
cp_batch_mass_balance	cheesemaking_separation	internal transfers and batch balance	batch production record	all material inputs; internal transfers; outputs; losses; start and end stock; state	weigh or meter each material at defined transfer points	kg	every batch	all included batches	reporting facility	reconcile inputs, outputs, and stock change by batch before period aggregation	calibrated scales; batch closure; exception investigation
cp_product_release_records	multiple	cheese outputs and reference product	batch release and warehouse record	batch; product; state; net mass; brine state; packaging; release date; disposition	verified production scale and released-stock reconciliation	kg	every released lot	all released lots in reporting period	reporting facility	sum released net cheese mass by declared product state; exclude free brine and packaging	scale calibration; release approval; warehouse reconciliation
cp_coproduct_records	cheesemaking_separation	whey and milk-derived co-products	transfer and dispatch record	batch; output; state; mass; destination; sale or beneficial use evidence	measure at transfer and reconcile dispatch	kg	every batch or dispatch	full reporting period	reporting facility and direct recipient	sum separately by output state and destination; classify non-beneficial output as waste	calibrated meter or scale; dispatch note; recipient evidence
cp_ripening_brining_records	ripening_brining	cheese, brine, salt, water, and utilities	batch, brine-management, and storage log	cheese entry and exit mass; dates; brine make-up; purge; carry-over; salt; water; utilities; losses	weigh cheese at entry and exit and meter or reconcile brine materials and utilities	kg, m3, kWh, or MJ	every batch and brine intervention	full ripening or brining duration for released lots	reporting facility	link all records to originating and released lots; distinguish recirculation from external input	scale and meter calibration; brine log; stock and batch reconciliation
cp_processed_cheese_batch_records	processed_cheese_manufacture	processed-cheese formulation	batch formulation and production record	each input; milk species; mass; output; rework; temperature/time where used for process identity	reconcile issued formulation with measured outputs and residues	kg	every batch	all included processed-cheese batches	reporting facility	aggregate only batches matching declared formulation and buffalo-only rule	approved formulation; calibrated scales; batch closure
cp_packaging_records	packaging_factory_storage	packaging materials	packaging issue, supplier specification, and reject record	material; format; supplier lot; issued items or mass; returned items; rejects; item mass	reconcile packaging issues with packed output and rejects	kg or item	each packaging lot with monthly reconciliation	full reporting period	reporting facility	convert counts using lot-specific mass and sum by material	supplier specification; measured item mass; stock reconciliation
cp_waste_records	multiple	material losses and wastes	waste transfer, scale, and destination record	source process; material; state; mass; destination; recovery; date	measure at collection or dispatch and reconcile with batch or period balance	kg or m3	each transfer with monthly reconciliation	full reporting period	reporting facility and direct treatment destination	aggregate by source, material, and treatment route without netting against inputs	scale or meter evidence; transfer note; treatment receipt
cp_cleaning_treatment_records	cleaning_wastewater	cleaning and treatment inputs	cleaning programme, dosing, meter, and stock record	system; chemical; water; dose; operating cycle; stock movement; served processes	direct dosing and water metering or documented allocation	kg or m3	every cleaning cycle or meter interval	full reporting period	reporting facility	aggregate by served system and allocate residual common cleaning using documented driver	calibration; stock reconciliation; cleaning log
cp_wastewater_records	cleaning_wastewater	wastewater and residues	flow meter, sample, laboratory, and treatment record	discharge volume; sampling time; concentration; pollutant load; destination; sludge and residue mass	flow measurement and representative sampling appropriate to the discharge	m3, kg, or mg/L with load calculation	continuous or permit/management frequency	full reporting period with variability retained	reporting facility discharge and on-site treatment	calculate loads from matched flow and concentration data; allocate with documented causal drivers	meter calibration; laboratory QA; sample representativeness; treatment reconciliation
cp_refrigerant_records	packaging_factory_storage	refrigerant losses	equipment inventory, service, purchase, recovery, and stock record	refrigerant; equipment; opening stock; additions; recovery; closing stock; transfer	annual or reporting-period mass balance by refrigerant and equipment system	kg	each service event and period close	full reporting period	systems serving included operations	calculate unrecovered loss and allocate only across served products with documented driver	service certificates; cylinder weights; inventory reconciliation
cp_direct_emission_records	cleaning_wastewater	direct site emissions	monitoring and operating record	source; substance; compartment; measured value; flow; operating time; method; calculation factor	use applicable monitoring or calculation method and preserve original observations	kg and original measurement unit	method- or permit-specific	full reporting period	included site sources	calculate period mass by substance, then attribute to served operations	method record; calibration; laboratory QA; applicability statement

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_buffalo_origin_check	all milk-derived inputs	List every milk-derived input by animal species. Applicability is buffalo-only when all such inputs are evidenced as buffalo. Any non-buffalo or unknown species result is a classification-review trigger, not a quantity to be silently included.	supplier and batch animal-species records; formulation	buffalo-only pass or mixed/unknown classification trigger	codex-cxs-206-1999; unsd-cpc-3-0
calc_reference_normalization	all inventory rows	normalized amount = attributable reporting-period or batch amount / released net reference cheese mass on the declared basis	attributable amount; released net cheese mass	amount per 1 kg reference cheese	eu-pef-2021
calc_net_cheese_mass	reference product	net cheese mass = gross marketed unit mass - packaging mass - separately present free brine mass; use measured values for the same lot and declare any commercial convention that differs	gross unit mass; packaging mass; free brine mass	kg net cheese
calc_batch_mass_balance	milk preparation, cheesemaking, ripening/brining, and processing	measured inputs + opening stock = measured outputs + closing stock + measured or reconciled losses; investigate unexplained imbalance rather than forcing a standard yield	batch input, output, stock, and loss records	reconciled batch balance and unexplained difference
calc_brine_balance	brining	external brine inputs = make-up water + make-up salt + purchased brine; outputs and stock change shall separately identify product carry-over, purge, wastewater, recovery, and closing stock	brine composition, make-up, purge, carry-over, and stock records	material-specific brine balance
calc_utility_allocation	common utilities	attributable utility = measured process use; for unmetered residuals, apply a disclosed causal driver over the same period and retain both facility total and allocation denominator	meters; invoices; operating driver; product output	utility by process and product	eu-fdm-bat-2019; eu-pef-2021
calc_refrigerant_loss	refrigeration systems	loss by refrigerant = opening stock + additions + received transfers - closing stock - recovered quantity - outgoing transfers, reconciled with service events	refrigerant stock and service records	kg direct emission by refrigerant	eu-pef-2021
calc_wastewater_load	wastewater	pollutant load shall be calculated from temporally matched discharge flow and measured concentration using the documented sampling and aggregation method; do not substitute a cheese quality or facility benchmark	flow; concentration; sampling interval	kg pollutant by reporting period	eu-fdm-bat-2019

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_species_traceability	milk and milk-derived inputs	Trace every input to supplier and lot animal-species evidence; unknown or non-buffalo origin blocks exact use of this PCR pending classification determination.	supplier certificate; receiving record; formulation and lot link
dq_state_traceability	reference cheese	Link the released mass to fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed state; brine/salt state; formulation; packaging; storage condition; and net-mass basis.	product specification; batch release; packaging and warehouse records
dq_measurement	foreground quantities	Use calibrated meters or scales where available, preserve original units, and document all conversions and allocations.	calibration certificates; meter coverage; conversion record
dq_temporal	reporting period	Cover a representative production period and the full ripening or storage duration attributable to released lots; disclose seasonal, campaign, shutdown, and product-mix effects.	production calendar; lot genealogy; reporting-period reconciliation
dq_completeness	foreground boundary	Reconcile milk, ingredients, cheese, co-products, wastes, water, energy, brine, packaging, wastewater, and direct emissions; disclose missing streams and proxies.	mass and utility balances; completeness checklist; exception log
dq_source_applicability	external rules and benchmarks	Record jurisdiction, installation threshold, product mix, process state, and other applicability conditions before using a source. Product-quality limits and BAT facility indicators shall not be treated as universal LCI amounts.	source applicability statement linked to each use
dq_upstream	linked datasets	Prefer supplier-specific buffalo milk and material datasets when available; otherwise document geographic, temporal, and technological representativeness and proxy limitations.	dataset metadata; supplier linkage; proxy justification

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validation_reference_identity	reference flow	Require product flow UUID 4b760369-5f64-47c7-b922-9dbe4b8abf98, Mass UUID 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66, unit-group UUID 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66, reference unit kg, and reference amount 1 kg.
validation_buffalo_only	category applicability	Pass exact category applicability only when every milk and milk-derived input has buffalo-origin evidence.	codex-cxs-206-1999; unsd-cpc-3-0
validation_mixed_milk	category applicability	If any non-buffalo or unknown-species milk-derived input exists, require a documented classification determination and do not report this PCR as an exact match until accepted.	codex-cxs-206-1999; unsd-cpc-3-0
validation_product_state	reference product	Require declaration of fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed state; named variety or specification; salt/brine state; ingredients; packaging; storage condition; and net-mass basis.	codex-cxs-283-1978; codex-cxs-221-2001
validation_process_coverage	process inventory	Require both required process modules and every conditional module triggered by the declared route, including brining, ripening, processed-cheese manufacture, packaging, storage, refrigeration, and on-site treatment when applicable.	eu-fdm-bat-2019
validation_mass_balance	each production route	Require reconciled batch or period mass balances with unexplained differences investigated and disclosed; reject substitution of a generic yield or loss factor.
validation_allocation	co-products and shared operations	Require subdivision evidence or a documented causal/allocation basis, co-product destination evidence, consistent reporting-period application, and sensitivity where residual allocation is material.	eu-pef-2021
validation_source_scope	use of standards and BAT evidence	Require an applicability statement for every externally sourced constraint. Reject any use of Codex product-quality limits or EU FDM BAT facility indicators as universal recipe, yield, energy, water, wastewater, or emission values.	codex-cxs-283-1978; codex-cxs-221-2001; eu-fdm-bat-2019
validation_foreground_records	quantitative inventory	Require site- and batch-specific records or an explicit PCR calculation rule for all material quantities. Missing records remain data gaps and shall not be replaced by undocumented defaults.	eu-pef-2021; eu-fdm-bat-2019
validation_inventory_completeness	foreground dataset	Require milk and ingredients, product and co-products, water and utilities, brine, packaging, waste, wastewater, and direct-emission checks with skipped or non-applicable items reported explicitly.	eu-fdm-bat-2019

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground production dataset suitable for publication as a secondary_dataset or background_dataset after review
downstream_use	Factory-gate process datasets and lifecycle models for declared buffalo-only fresh/unripened, ripened, or processed cheese products
allowed_use	Use for products matching buffalo-only origin, product state, formulation, brine, packaging, storage, geography, technology, and time represented by the dataset; broader use requires documented representativeness review
excluded_use	Mixed-milk cheese without classification determination; cattle-, sheep-, goat-, or other non-buffalo cheese; non-cheese products; routes or market states not represented; direct use of Codex quality limits or BAT facility indicators as LCI defaults
required_metadata	PCR id and version used; Tiangong reference flow UUID; CPC context; facility geography and technology; reporting period; animal-species evidence; product state and specification; salt/brine, ingredient, packaging, net-mass, and storage state; process coverage; upstream links; co-product status and allocation
required_quality_disclosure	Primary-data coverage; calibration and reconciliation; temporal, geographic, and technological representativeness; missing flows; allocation and sensitivity; data-source applicability; proxy datasets; uncertainty and review status
update_trigger	Change in milk species or supplier-origin evidence, formulation, cheese state, brine practice, packaging, technology, facility, allocation, co-product destination, upstream dataset, reporting period representativeness, or material water/energy/emission performance

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unsd-cpc-3-0	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification Version 3.0, structure and explanatory notes, subclass 22252, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/CPC (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Classification identity and buffalo-milk product boundary only
codex-cxs-206-1999	standard	Codex Alimentarius, General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms, CXS 206-1999, amended 2022, https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fworkspace.fao.org%2Fsites%2Fcodex%2FStandards%2FCXS%2B206-1999%2FCXS_206e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Milk and milk-product definitions, animal-species declaration, and mixed-species trigger; not LCI quantities
codex-cxs-283-1978	standard	Codex Alimentarius, General Standard for Cheese, CXS 283-1978, amended 2024, https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fworkspace.fao.org%2Fsites%2Fcodex%2FStandards%2FCXS%2B283-1978%2FCXS_283e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Cheese identity, ripening and brine-state descriptors, and candidate process/ingredient coverage; composition and quality provisions are not LCI factors
codex-cxs-221-2001	standard	Codex Alimentarius, Group Standard for Unripened Cheese Including Fresh Cheese, CXS 221-2001, amended 2022, https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fworkspace.fao.org%2Fsites%2Fcodex%2FStandards%2FCXS%2B221-2001%2FCXS_221e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Fresh/unripened product-state identity and candidate ingredient/process coverage; quality provisions are not LCI factors
eu-pef-2021	official_guidance	European Commission, Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods, Annex I Product Environmental Footprint method, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/oj (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Life-cycle boundary, data, allocation, calculation, quality, and disclosure principles; no cheese-specific default quantities
eu-fdm-bat-2019	official_guidance	European Commission, Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/2031 establishing BAT conclusions for the food, drink and milk industries, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2019/2031/oj (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Applicable dairy process coverage, resource and emission inventory, water/wastewater, energy, and monitoring topics; facility scope and operating conditions must be checked before use