The French Labels

Friday 12 June 2015

In France, the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) is tasked with regulating French products, notably using six labels that define their quality and origin, and which are the only ones controlled by the French government.

 

• AOC: (Controlled Designation of Origin – Appellation d’Origine Controlée) is the French certification awarded to a product that draws its specific character and authenticity from its geographical origin. Both man and nature have their role to play
• AOP: (Protected Designation of Origin – Appellation d’Origine Protégée) a sign awarded at a European level to denote products benefiting from an AOC granted by a European country
• PGI: (IGP Indication Géographique Protégée – Protected Geographical indication) a European quality sign covering agricultural products associated with a geographical area, but where every production stage does not necessarily take place in this area
• TSG: (STG Spécialité Traditionnelle Garantie – Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) a symbol highlighting the traditional character of a product either in the way it is made or through its raw materials
• Label Rouge: certifies that a product has a specific set of characteristics attributing a superior level to that of a similar current product
• Organic agriculture: (AB – Agriculture Biologique) is a production system ensuring that the agricultural practices in place maintain ecological harmony and man’s autonomy.

 

Source: INAO