What does it mean if a cheese is given appellation d'origine controlee?

The French Appellation d'Origine Controlee (AOC) in English means Controlled designation of origin. The AOC mark guarantees that the cheese originates from a specific region in France, from milk from specific herds of animals in the same area and partly matured there, that the cheese was made using strictly defined traditional methods, that the characteristics such as size, type of rind, texture and minimum fat content of the cheese have been precisely defined and adhered to, and that the producers submit themselves to review by a public control commission, which guarantees the authenticity and quality of the products.