Cheese from milk of sheep, fresh or processed

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to cheese manufactured exclusively from sheep milk or sheep-milk-derived dairy materials and delivered at the cheese manufacturing facility gate. It covers fresh or unripened cheese, whey cheese and curd, ripened cheese (including mould-ripened forms), grated or powdered cheese, cheese in brine, and processed cheese when every dairy cheese or milk ingredient is traceable to sheep milk.

The foreground route shall declare whether the reference product is fresh/unripened, ripened, whey cheese or curd, grated/powdered, or processed. It shall also declare whether the product is sold drained or in brine, the formulation and added-ingredient state, and whether the reference mass is unpackaged, bulk-packed, or retail-packed.

Cheese made from goat, cattle, buffalo, or other non-sheep milk is excluded. A mixed-milk cheese or a processed cheese containing any non-sheep dairy ingredient is outside this PCR and shall be reclassified; the non-sheep fraction shall not be hidden by allocation or mass balancing. Non-dairy cheese analogues are excluded. Sheep farming and milk production are represented by upstream datasets rather than repeated inside the cheese-factory foreground boundary. Distribution, retail, consumer use, and end-of-life are outside the default facility-gate boundary.

Codex product standards are used only to identify applicable product states, ingredients, and declarations. Their compositional, additive, hygiene, or quality provisions do not provide inventory amounts. No common milk-to-cheese yield, recipe, salt dose, water use, or energy intensity is imposed across the category; these quantities shall come from site- and batch-specific records.

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-sheep-fresh-or-processed
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 22253, Cheese from milk of sheep, fresh or processed
covered_products	Sheep-milk fresh/unripened cheese, whey cheese and curd, ripened or mould-ripened cheese, grated or powdered cheese, cheese in brine, and processed cheese made only from sheep-milk dairy ingredients
excluded_products	Goat-, cattle-, buffalo-, other-animal-, or mixed-milk cheese; processed cheese containing non-sheep dairy ingredients; non-dairy cheese analogues
representative_product	Market-ready sheep-milk cheese in the declared fresh/ripened/processed, brine, ingredient, and packaging state
production_route	Receipt of sheep milk or a traceable sheep-milk cheese intermediate; route-specific coagulation or whey recovery; conditional salting, ripening, brining, grinding, or processing; final conditioning and packaging
market_state	Facility-gate product; fresh/unripened, ripened, whey cheese/curd, grated/powdered, or processed state and drained/in-brine and packaging basis declared

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Provision of sheep-milk cheese in the declared product and market state at the cheese manufacturing facility gate
How much	1 kg of reference product on the declared net, drained, or as-packed mass basis
How well	Conforms to the producer's declared product specification and applicable market requirements; species origin and product-state declarations are complete
How long or cycle	One completed production batch through facility-gate release; ripening or holding duration is recorded when applicable
reference_flow_link	The mass-normalized output of final_conditioning_packaging, linked to the declared product state and the batch records that establish sheep-only dairy origin

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Cheese from milk of sheep, fresh or processed d2800438-b79a-4065-98ab-b7b0fe10ce97
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	sheep milk only; product state (fresh/unripened, ripened, whey cheese/curd, grated/powdered, or processed); raw-milk or heat-treatment status where relevant; ripening or holding duration where applicable; drained or in-brine basis; ingredient and formulation declaration; packaging basis; facility-gate geography and period

When constructing a foreground data package, every item in Required qualifiers shall be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comments, the product description, or an equivalent data-package field. Missing qualifiers make the reference flow incomplete.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass_basis	Reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Measure released product mass on the declared basis. Exclude packaging and free brine unless the reference product is explicitly declared as-packed; for cheese in brine, declare both cheese solids mass and brine mass and state whether the 1 kg reference is drained or as-packed.
sheep_origin_mass	Milk and dairy ingredients	Mass	kg	Record each received dairy lot by mass and species origin. Do not combine non-sheep dairy mass with sheep-milk inputs; any non-sheep dairy input requires reclassification.
volume_to_mass	Volumetrically metered milk, water, or brine	Mass or volume	kg or m3	Retain measured volume and convert to mass only with a density applicable to the recorded material, temperature, and batch or supplier specification; do not apply a universal density.
ingredient_mass_basis	Salt, cultures, coagulants, acids, emulsifying salts, and other ingredients	Mass	kg	Use batch issue, dosing, or reconciliation records. Codex permissions or quality limits do not constitute inventory quantities.
energy_conversion	Electricity, thermal energy, and fuels	Energy or mass/volume	kWh, MJ, kg, or m3	Retain meter or purchase units and the site-specific conversion factors, calorific values, and meter boundaries used to normalize energy to the reference flow.
packaging_mass	Primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging	Mass	kg	Convert packaging counts to mass using packaging specifications or weighed lot samples and keep each material separate.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Sheep milk received at the cheese facility for primary manufacture, or separately identified sheep-milk cheese/whey intermediate received for processed or whey-cheese manufacture
starting_condition_role	Defines the factory foreground entry point and preserves whether the route starts from sheep milk, sheep whey, or a sheep-milk cheese intermediate
product_classification_scope	Cheese whose dairy origin is exclusively sheep milk and whose fresh/ripened/processed, brine, ingredient, and packaging state is declared
recursive_input_rule	A sheep-milk cheese input used to make processed, grated, powdered, or otherwise further-processed cheese remains an explicit technosphere input with its own upstream dataset; do not recreate or double-count its prior cheese manufacture inside the receiving process
upstream_dataset_requirement	Use traceable upstream datasets for sheep milk and all received sheep-milk dairy intermediates, ingredients, energy carriers, water, packaging, transport to the facility when in study scope, and waste treatment
disclosure	Declare the foreground entry material, sheep-only evidence, process route, raw-milk/heat-treatment status where relevant, fresh/ripened/processed state, ripening or holding time, brine basis, ingredients, packaging basis, geography, technology, allocation method, and data period

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_sheep_only	All dairy material entering the foreground system	Include only lots documented as sheep milk or sheep-milk-derived material. A mixed-species lot or non-sheep dairy ingredient makes the product outside this PCR and requires reclassification.	unsd-cpc-3-0-2025; fao-who-cxs-206-1999
boundary_factory_gate	Foreground process chain	Include receipt and conditioning, applicable cheesemaking or processing operations, facility utilities and cleaning, product losses, wastewater and waste streams, final conditioning, packaging, and on-site storage through facility-gate release.	eu-pef-2021; eu-fdm-bat-2019
boundary_route_declaration	Product state and route	Include only the operations actually performed and declare every omitted conditional process. Fresh/unripened, ripened, whey-cheese, brined, grated/powdered, and processed routes shall not be represented by one assumed recipe or process intensity.	fao-who-cxs-283-1978; fao-who-cxs-221-2001; fao-who-cxs-208-1999
boundary_upstream_link	Sheep milk and sheep-milk dairy intermediates	Link upstream datasets rather than recursively reproducing their inventories; preserve supplier, geography, production system, and period compatibility.	eu-pef-2021
boundary_exclusions	Downstream stages	Exclude distribution, retail, consumer use, and end-of-life unless the study explicitly expands the boundary and reports those stages separately.	eu-pef-2021

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
milk_reception_conditioning	Sheep milk reception and conditioning	conditional	Required when sheep milk enters the foreground facility	Establish sheep-only identity, received mass, losses, and conditioned milk output	kg conditioned sheep milk by batch
primary_cheesemaking	Primary curd formation and whey separation	conditional	Required for cheese manufactured directly from sheep milk; adapted to the declared fresh or ripened route	Coagulation or equivalent cheese formation, curd handling, and whey separation	kg cheese intermediate and kg whey by batch
whey_cheese_recovery	Sheep-whey cheese recovery	conditional	Required when whey cheese or whey curd is produced as the reference product or as a co-product	Heat/acid or declared route for recovery from sheep-milk whey	kg whey cheese and residual whey by batch
salting_ripening_brining	Salting, ripening, and brining	conditional	Required when any of these operations is performed	Product-specific salt/brine management, ripening, turning, washing, drying, and storage	kg conditioned cheese output by lot
processed_cheese_manufacture	Processed, grated, or powdered sheep-milk cheese manufacture	conditional	Required for processed, grated, powdered, blended, or remelted products	Formula-controlled further processing of sheep-milk cheese inputs	kg processed cheese output by batch
facility_utilities_cleaning	Facility utilities, refrigeration, and cleaning	required	Record the services attributable to included foreground operations	Electricity, thermal energy, water, cleaning materials, wastewater, and refrigerant records	Measured service quantities allocated to qualifying output
final_conditioning_packaging	Final conditioning, packaging, and on-site storage	required	Applies to bulk, unpackaged, or retail-packed release; packaging inputs are conditional on the declared market state	Reconcile saleable output, packaging, storage losses, and reference-flow release	1 kg released reference product

Process: Sheep milk reception and conditioning (milk_reception_conditioning)

Inputs

Product flows

Received sheep milk (received_sheep_milk)

Record only milk lots with evidence of sheep origin. Supplier, lot, received mass, temperature, composition or quality data used for process control, and raw-milk or heat-treatment status shall remain linked to the batch.

• Selected flow: Sheep milk
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted sheep milk mass for each batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_lot_records
• Sources: fao-who-cxs-206-1999; fao-who-cxs-283-1978

Outputs

Product flows

Conditioned sheep milk (conditioned_sheep_milk)

Record mass transferred to cheesemaking after any filtration, separation, standardization, or heat treatment actually performed.

• Selected flow: Conditioned sheep milk
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass or batch mass reconciliation
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Waste flows

Rejected milk and reception residues (reception_rejects)

Keep rejected milk, filter residues, spills, and their destinations separate from accepted milk.

• Selected flow: Rejected milk and dairy residues
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or reconciled rejected mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Process: Primary curd formation and whey separation (primary_cheesemaking)

Inputs

Product flows

Conditioned sheep milk input (cheesemaking_milk_input)

Transfer the conditioned sheep milk mass without substituting a generic milk-to-cheese yield.

• Selected flow: Conditioned sheep milk
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch transfer mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_lot_records

Cultures, coagulants, salt, and route-specific ingredients (cheesemaking_ingredients)

Record each ingredient separately with supplier, lot, species origin where dairy-derived, active preparation, and batch dose. A Codex-permitted ingredient or additive class is not an inventory quantity.

• Selected flow: Route-specific cheesemaking ingredients
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: batch issue or dosing record for each ingredient
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_ingredient_formula_records
• Sources: fao-who-cxs-283-1978; fao-who-cxs-221-2001

Outputs

Product flows

Fresh curd or cheese intermediate (fresh_cheese_intermediate)

Record the actual batch output and its route disposition: direct fresh-cheese release, ripening/brining, or transfer to further processing.

• Selected flow: Fresh sheep-milk cheese or curd intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured output mass by disposition
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Sheep-milk whey (sheep_milk_whey)

Measure whey by mass or validated volume-to-mass conversion and record whether it is sold, internally recovered, treated, or discarded.

• Selected flow: Sheep-milk whey
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or batch-reconciled whey mass by destination
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Waste flows

Curd fines, spills, and off-specification losses (cheesemaking_losses)

Record separately by recovery, feed, treatment, or disposal destination.

• Selected flow: Cheesemaking dairy residues
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or reconciled loss mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Process: Sheep-whey cheese recovery (whey_cheese_recovery)

Inputs

Product flows

Sheep-milk whey input (whey_recovery_input)

Keep the whey source lot and any upstream allocation or burden attached to the input dataset.

• Selected flow: Sheep-milk whey
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured received or transferred whey mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_lot_records

Whey-cheese ingredients (whey_cheese_ingredients)

Record acidulants, salt, milk additions, or other route-specific ingredients from batch formulation records; any dairy addition shall be sheep-derived.

• Selected flow: Whey-cheese ingredients
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: batch issue or dosing record for each ingredient
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_ingredient_formula_records

Outputs

Product flows

Recovered whey cheese or curd (whey_cheese_output)

Record the saleable mass and declared fresh, packed, or further-conditioned state.

• Selected flow: Sheep-whey cheese or curd
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch output mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Waste flows

Residual whey and recovery losses (residual_whey)

Record mass, concentration when relevant to treatment, and destination without assuming a fixed recovery rate.

• Selected flow: Residual sheep-milk whey
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or reconciled residual mass by destination
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Process: Salting, ripening, and brining (salting_ripening_brining)

Inputs

Product flows

Fresh sheep-milk cheese input (ripening_cheese_input)

Record lot mass, product state, moisture or dry-matter measurement if used for process control, and entry time.

• Selected flow: Fresh sheep-milk cheese intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured lot transfer mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_lot_records

Salt and brine make-up (salt_brine_input)

Record dry salt, water, reused brine, and make-up or replacement separately; do not infer a recipe from product quality limits.

• Selected flow: Salt and process brine
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured make-up, addition, and transfer quantities by lot or tank cycle
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_brine_records
• Sources: fao-who-cxs-208-1999

Outputs

Product flows

Ripened or brined cheese (ripened_brined_cheese)

Record released mass, ripening or brining duration, and drained or in-brine state. Mass change during ripening shall be calculated from recorded entry and exit masses, not a category default.

• Selected flow: Ripened or brined sheep-milk cheese
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured lot output on the declared mass basis
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Waste flows

Spent brine and ripening losses (spent_brine_ripening_losses)

Keep spent brine, washings, rind trimming, rejected cheese, and evaporative mass change distinct.

• Selected flow: Spent brine and ripening residues
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured discharge or reconciled loss by destination
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Process: Processed, grated, or powdered sheep-milk cheese manufacture (processed_cheese_manufacture)

Inputs

Product flows

Sheep-milk cheese intermediates (processed_cheese_inputs)

Record each cheese input lot and verify that all dairy cheese and milk ingredients are sheep-derived. Mixed-species inputs require reclassification.

• Selected flow: Sheep-milk cheese intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass of each input lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_lot_records

Added ingredients and process water (processed_cheese_ingredients)

Record each ingredient, water addition, processing aid, and dairy origin from the approved batch formulation. Do not convert Codex permissions into a default formula.

• Selected flow: Processed-cheese ingredients and water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: batch issue, dosing, or formulation reconciliation for each material
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_ingredient_formula_records
• Sources: fao-who-cxs-283-1978

Outputs

Product flows

Processed, grated, or powdered cheese output (processed_cheese_output)

Record mass and the exact processed state and formulation associated with the batch.

• Selected flow: Processed sheep-milk cheese
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured saleable batch output mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Waste flows

Processing and product losses (processed_cheese_losses)

Record start-up, trimming, filter, off-specification, and cleaning-recovery losses by destination.

• Selected flow: Processed-cheese residues
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or reconciled mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Process: Facility utilities, refrigeration, and cleaning (facility_utilities_cleaning)

Inputs

Product flows

Purchased electricity (facility_electricity)

Record grid or supplier electricity at the narrowest available meter boundary; do not combine it with fuels, steam, or recovered energy.

• Selected flow: Alternating-current electricity, declared consumption mix and voltage level
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered electricity attributed to included processes using documented direct measurement or site allocation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Purchased steam (facility_purchased_steam)

Instantiate only when steam crosses the facility boundary; retain supplier pressure or temperature and condensate-return conditions.

• Selected flow: Purchased steam, declared pressure and condensate-return condition
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ or Mass / kg
• Amount rule: supplier meter or invoice quantity, kept separate from on-site fuel use
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Purchased hot water (facility_purchased_hot_water)

Instantiate only when hot water is purchased as an energy service; declare supply and return temperatures.

• Selected flow: Purchased hot water, declared supply and return temperatures
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered heat or calculated from metered mass, temperature difference, and documented heat capacity
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Natural gas (facility_natural_gas)

Instantiate when natural gas is burned on site for boilers, pasteurisation, hot water, or space/process heating.

• Selected flow: Natural gas, gaseous, delivered to the facility
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3 or Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered or invoiced carrier quantity; retain the declared higher/lower heating-value convention
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Liquefied petroleum gas (facility_lpg)

Instantiate when LPG is burned on site; do not merge it with natural gas or diesel.

• Selected flow: Liquefied petroleum gas, delivered to the facility
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg or Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: tank issue, delivery, or stock-reconciliation quantity with documented heating-value conversion when used
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Diesel fuel (facility_diesel)

Instantiate only for stationary thermal equipment or directly attributable internal equipment; exclude inbound or outbound transport unless separately in scope.

• Selected flow: Diesel fuel, delivered to the facility
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg or Volume / L
• Amount rule: issue or purchase quantity reconciled to equipment operating records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Process water (facility_process_water)

Record water incorporated into cheese, brine, whey handling, or direct product-contact processing separately from cleaning water.

• Selected flow: Process water, declared source and treatment state
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3 or Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered quantity or batch dosing record
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Cleaning water (facility_cleaning_water)

Record CIP, manual wash-down, crate cleaning, and sanitation water separately from product/process water; identify reused water without double counting.

• Selected flow: Cleaning water, declared source and treatment state
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3 or Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered quantity or documented allocation from a complete facility water balance
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Sodium hydroxide cleaning agent (cip_sodium_hydroxide)

Instantiate when caustic soda is used for CIP or equipment cleaning; retain supplied concentration and active mass.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide cleaning agent
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued solution mass multiplied by measured or supplier-declared active fraction, retaining both gross and active mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Nitric acid cleaning agent (cip_nitric_acid)

Instantiate when nitric acid is used in acid-CIP cycles; do not combine it with caustic or sanitiser use.

• Selected flow: Nitric acid cleaning agent
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued solution mass multiplied by measured or supplier-declared active fraction, retaining both gross and active mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Peracetic acid sanitiser (sanitizer_peracetic_acid)

Instantiate when peracetic acid is used; preserve formulation concentration instead of reporting generic sanitiser.

• Selected flow: Peracetic acid sanitiser
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: dosed formulation mass with supplier active concentration retained
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Sodium hypochlorite sanitiser (sanitizer_sodium_hypochlorite)

Instantiate when sodium hypochlorite is used; retain available-chlorine concentration and keep it separate from other sanitisers.

• Selected flow: Sodium hypochlorite sanitiser
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: dosed formulation mass with available-chlorine fraction retained
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_utility_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Outputs

Waste flows

Facility wastewater (facility_wastewater)

Record discharge volume and destination; retain sampling data for relevant load parameters and keep separately managed uncontaminated water streams distinct. BAT indicative performance levels are contextual checks only when their stated applicability and denominator match.

• Selected flow: Dairy facility wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered discharge or validated water-balance calculation by destination
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Elementary flows

Chemical oxygen demand to water (wastewater_cod_to_water)

Report COD load for the discharged dairy wastewater from matched flow and concentration records.

• Selected flow: Chemical oxygen demand, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched discharge volume multiplied by representative COD concentration, with sampling coverage retained
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Biochemical oxygen demand to water (wastewater_bod5_to_water)

Report five-day biochemical oxygen-demand load separately from COD.

• Selected flow: Biochemical oxygen demand, 5-day, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched discharge volume multiplied by representative BOD5 concentration, with sampling coverage retained
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Total nitrogen to water (wastewater_total_nitrogen_to_water)

Report total-nitrogen load when monitored or required for the discharge route.

• Selected flow: Total nitrogen, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched discharge volume multiplied by representative total-nitrogen concentration
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Total phosphorus to water (wastewater_total_phosphorus_to_water)

Report total-phosphorus load separately from nitrogen and suspended solids.

• Selected flow: Total phosphorus, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched discharge volume multiplied by representative total-phosphorus concentration
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Total suspended solids to water (wastewater_tss_to_water)

Report suspended-solids load from matched discharge and analytical records.

• Selected flow: Total suspended solids, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched discharge volume multiplied by representative TSS concentration
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Oil and grease to water (wastewater_oil_grease_to_water)

Report oil-and-grease load when monitored or material for the selected discharge or treatment route.

• Selected flow: Oil and grease, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched discharge volume multiplied by representative oil-and-grease concentration
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: eu-fdm-bat-2019

Ammonia refrigerant loss to air (refrigerant_r717_to_air)

Instantiate for R717 systems and calculate loss from substance-specific service and inventory records.

• Selected flow: Ammonia (R717), to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: opening charge plus additions minus recovered quantity and closing charge, with leak-event reconciliation
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_records

R404A refrigerant loss to air (refrigerant_r404a_to_air)

Instantiate for R404A systems; never combine the blend mass with ammonia or another refrigerant.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant R404A, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: opening charge plus additions minus recovered quantity and closing charge, with leak-event reconciliation
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_records

Process: Final conditioning, packaging, and on-site storage (final_conditioning_packaging)

Inputs

Product flows

Qualified sheep-milk cheese (qualified_cheese_input)

Record the cheese lot entering final conditioning with the product-state qualifiers required by this PCR.

• Selected flow: Qualified sheep-milk cheese
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass entering final release operations
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Plastic film packaging (packaging_plastic_film)

Instantiate for flexible polymer film and declare polymer, layer structure, recycled content, and packaging level.

• Selected flow: Plastic packaging film, declared polymer and laminate structure
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued mass or item count multiplied by verified film mass, net of returns
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Rigid plastic packaging (packaging_rigid_plastic)

Instantiate for tubs, cups, trays, lids, or closures; retain polymer and component identity.

• Selected flow: Rigid plastic packaging component, declared polymer
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: component count multiplied by verified component mass, net of returns
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Corrugated cardboard packaging (packaging_corrugated_cardboard)

Instantiate for cartons, cases, dividers, or sleeves made from corrugated board.

• Selected flow: Corrugated cardboard packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: component count multiplied by verified board-component mass, net of returns
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Aluminium foil packaging (packaging_aluminium_foil)

Instantiate for aluminium foil or foil-dominant lids; multilayer laminates remain identified by their full structure.

• Selected flow: Aluminium foil packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued mass or component count multiplied by verified component mass
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Glass packaging (packaging_glass)

Instantiate for glass jars or containers and record closure materials separately.

• Selected flow: Glass packaging container
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: accepted container count multiplied by verified container mass
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Wooden pallet packaging (packaging_wooden_pallet)

Instantiate when pallets are included; allocate reusable pallets using verified trip count and loss/repair records.

• Selected flow: Wooden transport pallet
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: pallet mass divided by verified reuse cycles and allocated to dispatched product mass
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Outputs

Product flows

Released reference product (released_sheep_cheese)

This output is the declared sheep-milk cheese in its stated fresh/ripened/processed, brine, ingredient, and packaging state.

• Selected flow: Cheese from milk of sheep, fresh or processed d2800438-b79a-4065-98ab-b7b0fe10ce97
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: exactly 1 kg on the declared reference mass basis
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Not applicable (not_applicable)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)

Waste flows

Plastic-film packaging scrap (waste_plastic_film_packaging)

Record rejected and trimmed flexible film separately from other polymers and by destination.

• Selected flow: Plastic-film packaging scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or issue-reconciled scrap mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Rigid-plastic packaging scrap (waste_rigid_plastic_packaging)

Record rejected tubs, cups, trays, lids, and closures by polymer and destination.

• Selected flow: Rigid-plastic packaging scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or count-to-mass reconciled scrap by polymer and destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Corrugated-cardboard packaging scrap (waste_corrugated_cardboard_packaging)

Record damaged cartons, cases, dividers, and sleeves separately from plastic packaging.

• Selected flow: Corrugated-cardboard packaging scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or issue-reconciled scrap mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Aluminium-foil packaging scrap (waste_aluminium_foil_packaging)

Record foil and foil-dominant laminate scrap separately and retain laminate composition.

• Selected flow: Aluminium-foil packaging scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or issue-reconciled scrap mass by composition and destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Broken glass packaging (waste_glass_packaging)

Record broken or rejected glass containers separately from closure and label waste.

• Selected flow: Broken glass packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured broken-container mass or rejected count multiplied by verified container mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

Final cheese product loss (waste_final_cheese_product)

Record start-up, changeover, damaged-pack, and pre-release returned cheese separately from packaging waste.

• Selected flow: Off-specification sheep-milk cheese
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or batch-mass-balance-reconciled product loss by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_loss_waste_records

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivide_first	Distinct product lines, routes, and batches	Subdivide or meter fresh, ripened, whey-cheese, brined, and processed routes and shared services before applying allocation. Do not use one category-wide factor.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_whey_and_coproducts	Cheese, whey, cream, fines, and other valuable co-products	First determine whether process subdivision or an independently measurable physical relationship avoids allocation. If residual multifunctionality remains, document the selected physical or economic relationship, site-period masses and values, and a sensitivity result; do not infer a factor from Codex composition provisions.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_internal_whey	Whey transferred to whey_cheese_recovery	Treat the whey as an explicit intermediate transfer and prevent double counting between primary cheesemaking and whey-cheese recovery. The final dataset shall state how upstream burdens accompany that transfer.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_shared_utilities	Electricity, heat, refrigeration, water, cleaning, and wastewater	Use submetering where available; otherwise apply a documented causal driver such as operating time, equipment load, cleaned surface, water balance, or batch throughput. Record the driver and reconcile it to the facility total.	eu-fdm-bat-2019; eu-pef-2021
allocation_non_sheep_prohibited	Mixed-species dairy inputs	Allocation shall never be used to relabel a mixed-milk or non-sheep-dairy product as sheep-milk cheese. Such a product is outside scope and shall be reclassified.	unsd-cpc-3-0-2025

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_material_lot_records	milk_reception_conditioning; primary_cheesemaking; whey_cheese_recovery; salting_ripening_brining; processed_cheese_manufacture	Milk, whey, and cheese intermediate inputs and transfers	receiving ticket, batch sheet, tank or scale record, supplier declaration	lot_id; supplier; animal_species; material_state; raw_or_heat_treated_status; gross_mass; tare_mass; net_mass; volume; density_basis; timestamp; destination_batch	Calibrated weighing or metering linked to lot and batch; retain sheep-origin evidence	kg; L or m3 with applicable density	Each receipt and transfer	All qualifying batches in the declared period	Each included facility and supplier lot	Sum accepted net mass by material and batch; keep rejects and non-sheep lots separate	Scale or meter calibration; supplier species declaration; lot trace; reconciliation to inventory
cp_ingredient_formula_records	primary_cheesemaking; whey_cheese_recovery; processed_cheese_manufacture	Cultures, coagulants, salt, acidulants, water additions, and other ingredients	approved formulation, issue ticket, dosing log	batch_id; ingredient_id; supplier_lot; dairy_species_origin; issued_mass; returned_mass; dosed_mass; concentration; formulation_revision	Reconcile issued, returned, and dosed quantities to approved batch formula	kg; L with density where applicable	Each batch	All qualifying batches	Each product and formulation at each facility	Net ingredient use by batch and ingredient; no default recipe substitution	Formula approval; lot trace; dosing-device calibration; issue-return reconciliation
cp_batch_output_records	milk_reception_conditioning; primary_cheesemaking; whey_cheese_recovery; salting_ripening_brining; processed_cheese_manufacture; final_conditioning_packaging	Intermediates, co-products, and saleable output	batch yield sheet, scale record, tank meter, warehouse release	batch_id; product_state; entry_mass; output_mass; whey_mass_or_volume; brine_state; ripening_start_end; pack_basis; disposition; timestamp	Direct weighing or metering, linked across process steps and dispositions	kg; L or m3 with applicable density	Each batch or lot movement	All qualifying batches	Each included process line	Sum measured outputs by batch and disposition; normalize only after qualified reference mass is known	Calibration; batch genealogy; warehouse reconciliation; retained product-state declaration
cp_brine_records	salting_ripening_brining	Salt, make-up water, reused brine, cheese carried brine, and spent brine	tank log, dosing log, laboratory record, discharge ticket	tank_id; cycle_id; initial_mass_or_volume; salt_addition; water_addition; transferred_in_out; concentration; cheese_lot; spent_brine_mass_or_volume; destination	Meter or weigh additions and removals; sample concentration when used in process calculation	kg; m3; concentration in recorded unit	Each tank cycle and cheese lot	All applicable cycles	Each brine system	Tank mass balance by cycle; allocate only with documented cheese-lot driver	Meter/scale calibration; sample result; tank reconciliation; destination record
cp_utility_records	facility_utilities_cleaning	Electricity, fuels, thermal energy, water, and cleaning materials	meter, invoice, stock issue, production log	meter_id; opening_closing_reading; carrier; unit; fuel_quality_or_calorific_value; water_use; chemical_id; concentration; operating_time; process_or_line	Read submeters where available; reconcile invoices and stocks; document shared-service allocation driver	kWh; MJ; kg; m3	Per batch where metered, otherwise daily or monthly	Representative declared period including seasonal and product-mix variation	Each facility and meter boundary	Subtract verified non-process use; allocate shared totals with a documented causal driver; reconcile to facility total	Meter calibration; invoice; stock reconciliation; allocation worksheet; completeness check
cp_wastewater_records	facility_utilities_cleaning	Wastewater and separately managed water streams	discharge meter, water balance, sample and treatment record	stream_id; destination; volume; sampling_time; pH; temperature; COD_or_TOC; nitrogen; phosphorus; chloride; conductivity; treatment	Meter discharge where possible; otherwise validated water balance; sample parameters relevant to treatment and permit context	m3 and parameter-specific units	Continuous or per discharge; representative sampling	Declared period	Each discharge point and treatment destination	Sum by stream and destination; report loads only from matched flow and concentration data	Meter calibration; laboratory method; sampling plan; water-balance reconciliation
cp_refrigerant_records	facility_utilities_cleaning	Refrigerant losses	equipment service and refrigerant inventory log	equipment_id; refrigerant; opening_charge; additions; recovery; closing_charge; service_date; leak_event	Substance-specific mass reconciliation over the declared period	kg	Each service event and period close	Declared period	All refrigeration serving included operations	Additions plus opening charge minus recovered and closing charge, checked for unexplained imbalance	Service certificate; cylinder records; equipment inventory; reconciliation sign-off
cp_packaging_records	final_conditioning_packaging	Primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging	bill of materials, issue record, component specification, weighed sample	packaging_component; material; supplier; component_mass; count_issued; count_returned; scrap_count; recycled_content_claim; pack_format	Reconcile issued and returned counts; convert using supplier specification or representative weighing	item; kg	Each pack format and batch	All qualifying production	Each product and packaging format	Net count multiplied by verified component mass; keep materials and packaging levels separate	Current specification; sample-weighing record; issue-return reconciliation
cp_loss_waste_records	all included processes	Rejected material, spills, curd fines, residual whey, spent brine, off-specification cheese, packaging waste, and other losses	waste scale, production loss log, transfer note, treatment or sales record	batch_id; material; mass_or_volume; solids_or_concentration_if_relevant; cause; destination; recovery_status; ticket_id	Weigh or meter at transfer; otherwise close a documented material balance	kg; m3	Each event or batch	Declared period	Each process and destination	Sum by material, cause, and destination; do not net valuable co-products against waste	Scale/meter evidence; destination ticket; mass-balance reconciliation; supervisor review

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	Every inventory row	Divide the qualifying period or batch quantity by released reference-product mass on the same declared net, drained, or as-packed basis.	Row quantity; qualified released mass; packaging/brine basis	Quantity per 1 kg reference product	eu-pef-2021
calc_product_mass_basis	Brined and packaged products	Reference mass equals measured cheese mass when declared drained/net; when declared as-packed, separately report cheese, free brine, and packaging and include only components explicitly stated by the functional unit.	Gross, tare, drained cheese, free brine, and packaging masses	Declared reference-product mass and component disclosure	fao-who-cxs-208-1999; eu-pef-2021
calc_batch_mass_balance	Each included batch and process step	Reconcile measured inputs, outputs, transfers, retained inventory, and identified losses. Report the unexplained difference; do not force it into whey, wastewater, or product yield.	Opening and closing inventory; all measured inputs and outputs	Mass-balance residual and completeness flag	mass-balance-identity; eu-fdm-bat-2019
calc_volume_to_mass	Milk, whey, brine, and liquid ingredients	Multiply measured volume by a batch-, temperature-, or supplier-applicable density; retain original volume and density provenance.	Volume; density; material and temperature context	Mass in kg	mass-balance-identity
calc_shared_services	Shared utilities and cleaning	Allocate only after direct metering and subdivision are exhausted, using the documented causal driver and reconciling allocated totals to facility totals.	Shared total; driver values; qualifying output mass	Allocated service quantity per reference product	eu-pef-2021; eu-fdm-bat-2019
calc_coproduct_allocation	Residual multi-output processes	Apply the reviewed site-period physical or economic relationship only when subdivision or a measurable physical relationship does not avoid allocation; preserve unallocated masses and sensitivity results.	Co-product masses; physical driver or revenue; period; currency and prices where used	Documented allocation factors and sensitivity result	eu-pef-2021

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_species_traceability	All milk, whey, cheese, and dairy ingredients	Evidence shall demonstrate sheep-only dairy origin for every lot. Any mixed or unresolved species origin blocks use of this PCR.	Supplier declaration, lot genealogy, formula and receiving records
dq_route_representativeness	Product and process route	Data shall represent the declared fresh/unripened, ripened, whey-cheese, brined, grated/powdered, or processed route and its actual technology, product mix, and operating pattern.	Process flow diagram, batch list, formulation revision, technology and operating records
dq_temporal_coverage	Foreground inventory	Use a stated period that captures relevant seasonal milk composition, product mix, ripening occupancy, cleaning, and utility variation; justify exclusions and abnormal events.	Coverage register, production calendar, meter completeness report
dq_measurement	Mass, volume, energy, packaging, and discharge data	Identify meter and scale boundaries, calibration status, conversions, missing-data treatment, and reconciliation residuals.	Calibration certificates, raw readings, conversion worksheet, mass and water balances
dq_no_standard_as_lci	Codex and BAT references	Do not use product permissions, quality limits, BAT applicability thresholds, or indicative performance levels as foreground inventory values unless a separate, applicability-matched modelling decision is explicitly documented.	Source applicability review and site-record comparison
dq_upstream_compatibility	Sheep milk and dairy intermediate datasets	Disclose supplier geography, production system, time, species, raw/processed state, and allocation method; explain proxies and avoid goat-milk substitution.	Upstream dataset metadata and supplier linkage

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	Reference flow	The product-flow UUID shall equal d2800438-b79a-4065-98ab-b7b0fe10ce97, the flow-property UUID shall equal 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66, the unit-group UUID shall equal 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66, and the reference amount shall be 1 kg.
validate_sheep_only	Product and input identity	Fail when any dairy input is goat, cattle, buffalo, other-animal, mixed-species, or unresolved species origin. Mixed-milk products require reclassification.	unsd-cpc-3-0-2025; fao-who-cxs-206-1999
validate_required_qualifiers	Dataset metadata	Fail when product state, raw-milk/heat-treatment status where relevant, ripening/holding duration where applicable, brine mass basis, ingredient/formulation state, packaging basis, facility-gate geography, or period is missing.	fao-who-cxs-283-1978; fao-who-cxs-221-2001; fao-who-cxs-208-1999
validate_route_processes	Process map and inventory	Every included operation shall have a matching process section and records; every omitted conditional operation shall be justified against the declared route.	eu-pef-2021; eu-fdm-bat-2019
validate_atomic_inventory	Inventory flow cards	Fail any card that combines multiple energy carriers, fuels, water uses, cleaning chemicals, refrigerants, wastewater pollutants, packaging materials, wastes, or emissions. Require one row per named substance, carrier, component, or waste stream; instantiate only rows used by the declared route.	eu-fdm-bat-2019
validate_mass_reconciliation	Batch and period balances	Report input, output, transfer, inventory-change, and loss terms plus the unexplained residual. Fail completeness when a material stream is silently forced into product, whey, wastewater, or waste.	mass-balance-identity; eu-fdm-bat-2019
validate_no_universal_intensity	Yield, recipe, salt, water, energy, and waste quantities	Fail when a Codex limit, BAT contextual level, or generic category value is inserted as site foreground data without an applicability-matched source and declared modelling role.	fao-who-cxs-283-1978; eu-fdm-bat-2019
validate_allocation	Multi-output and shared-service processes	Require subdivision assessment, the selected causal or allocation relationship, site-period inputs, reconciliation, and sensitivity disclosure; fail if allocation is used to conceal non-sheep dairy material.	eu-pef-2021
validate_sources_and_period	Foreground and upstream data	Require source provenance, temporal coverage, facility and supplier scope, measurement or calculation method, and disclosure of proxies and missing-data treatment.	eu-pef-2021

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset or background_dataset derived from a completed, reviewed foreground data package
downstream_use	Product or process LCA for exclusively sheep-milk cheese at the declared facility-gate state; lifecycle model inputs with compatible geography, technology, product state, and time
allowed_use	Fresh/unripened, ripened, whey-cheese/curd, brined, grated/powdered, or processed sheep-milk cheese when route, species origin, brine basis, ingredients, packaging, allocation, and data quality match
excluded_use	Goat-, cattle-, buffalo-, other-animal-, or mixed-milk cheese; non-dairy analogues; substitution across unreported product states; use of Codex or BAT values as unverified foreground inventory
required_metadata	PCR id; reference UUIDs; CPC context; sheep-only origin evidence; route and product state; raw-milk/heat-treatment status where relevant; ripening/holding duration; brine and packaging basis; formulation; facility geography and technology; period; upstream links; allocation method
required_quality_disclosure	Batch and period coverage; calibration and meter boundaries; mass, water, and utility reconciliation; product and co-product yields from records; missing-data and proxy treatment; upstream compatibility; allocation drivers and sensitivity; source applicability
update_trigger	Change in species or dairy origin, product state, recipe, brine or packaging basis, process technology, facility boundary, supplier or upstream dataset, allocation method, representative period, or applicable PCR/source rule

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unsd-cpc-3-0-2025	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification Version 3.0 Explanatory Notes, subclass 22253, 2025. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Exp_Notes_30Jun2025.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Sheep-milk-only CPC scope; included fresh, whey/curd, grated/powdered, processed, blue-veined and other cheese states; exclusions of goat, cattle, buffalo, and other-animal cheese
fao-who-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+206-1999%2FCXS_206e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Dairy terminology and animal-origin declaration context; not an LCI quantity source
fao-who-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+283-1978%2FCXS_283e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	General cheese definition, product-state and ingredient applicability, and route declarations; no inferred recipe, yield, or LCI amount
fao-who-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+221-2001%2FCXS_221e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Applicability to unripened/fresh cheese and associated ingredient and product-state declarations; no inferred formulation or LCI amount
fao-who-cxs-208-1999	standard	Codex Alimentarius, Group Standard for Cheeses in Brine, CXS 208-1999, 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+208-1999%2FCXS_208e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Brined-cheese applicability and the need to declare drained versus in-brine state; no inferred salt or brine amount
eu-pef-2021	official_guidance	European Commission, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 on the use of Environmental Footprint methods, Annex I Product Environmental Footprint Method. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/oj (retrieved 2026-08-12)	Functional unit and reference flow, system boundary, company-specific data, data quality, multifunctionality, allocation hierarchy, and reporting
eu-fdm-bat-2019	official_guidance	European Commission, 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)	Process, water, energy, raw-material, wastewater, waste-gas, and waste inventory design; metering and reconciliation; applicability-limited contextual checks only
mass-balance-identity	method_factor	Conservation-of-mass identity implemented through calc_batch_mass_balance; all terms are obtained from foreground records.	Batch completeness, volume-to-mass support, and unexplained-residual reporting; no category-wide yield factor