The FDA has backed away from their ban on wood aged cheeses!  Unfortunately, they are stating that they never issued such a rule clarification although it is plainly stated in FDA’s Branch Chief Monica Metz’s published statement from Monday which contained the following tidbit:

The use of wooden shelves, rough or otherwise, for cheese ripening does not conform to cGMP requirements, which require that "all plant equipment and utensils shall be so designed and of such material and workmanship as to be adequately cleanable, and shall be properly maintained." 21 CFR 110.40(a). Wooden shelves or boards cannot be adequately cleaned and sanitized.  The porous structure of wood enables it to absorb and retain bacteria, therefore bacteria generally colonize not only the surface but also the inside layers of wood. The shelves or boards used for aging make direct contact with finished products; hence they could be a potential source of pathogenic microorganisms in the finished products.

Either way, it is good news, and a rare thing to see a governmental entity decide not to double down on their stupidity.