INAO's role in organic farming
Bolstered by its technical and legal expertise, INAO is responsible for applying the legislative and regulatory provisions on organic farming, based on European and national regulations.
The INAO's regulatory work in detail The Conseil national de l'agriculture biologique (CNAB) Experts throughout France
Essential work on organic farming regulations and protection
INAO ensures the uniform application of European Union law. As such, when the application of European law requires clarification, the INAO's National Organic Farming Committee (CNAB) is regularly consulted to provide insight into the regulations or formulate proposals to the administrations concerned, notably the Direction générale de la Performance économique et environnementale des entreprises (DGPE) and the Direction générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des fraudes (DGCCRF). European regulations also recognize the possibility of adopting cahiers des charges nationaux when detailed production rules have not yet been established at European level (examples: snails, ostriches...).
INAO manages and assesses, within the appropriate regulatory framework, the issuance of individual derogations provided for by the regulations, particularly in the event of exceptional circumstances. The management of derogations relating to the use of non-organic seeds and seedlings is, however, the responsibility of the certification bodies acting on delegation from the Institute.
INAO approves the certification bodies (CBs) whose monitoring and proper execution of controls it ensures. In this context, and in compliance with European and French regulations, the INAO draws up documents (directives, circulars, guides) designed to provide a framework for the working procedures of the certification bodies (nature, content, frequency of controls, methods for dealing with breaches), and this, in order to guarantee a good level of harmonization of practices between them.
The INAO protects and defends the marque AB. In particular, it intervenes in cases of counterfeiting of this mark and fraudulent use, and ensures the proper application of the rules of use attached to it.
Finally, the Institute contributes to the international influence of organic farming by participating in targeted international cooperation actions, where appropriate in conjunction with the Agence Bio.
Le Comité national de l'agriculture biologique: un espace de concertation
The Comité national de l'agriculture biologique (CNAB) and the national commissions that report to it are consultation structures bringing together organic production stakeholders.
The CNAB is notably responsible for:
- make proposals to the French authorities concerning changes to the regulations;
- give its opinion on the approval of national specifications for products without detailed rules in the European regulations;
- study and propose any measure likely to encourage improvements in the production and quality of products from organic farming;
- give an opinion on any question relating to the organic method of production and processing of products submitted by the ministers responsible for agriculture or consumer affairs.
The CNAB brings together:
- a chairman;
- representatives from the production, processing and trading sectors;
- a member from each of the other INAO national committees and the Conseil des Agréments et Contrôles (CAC), ensuring consistency with the rules inherent in controls and other SIQO;
- representatives from the administrations: Direction générale de la performance économique et environnementale des entreprises, Direction générale de l'alimentation, Direction générale de la concurrence, consommation et répression des fraudes, Commissariat général au développement durable, Direction générale des affaires maritimes, de la pêche et de l'aquaculture, Agence Bio;
- qualified personalities as well as representatives of consumers and environmental protection associations.
This wide-ranging composition ensures the legitimacy of the decisions taken. Where necessary, the positions adopted are relayed to the European level and contribute to the evolution of regulations.
The CNAB bases its expertise on the work of 7 national commissions and numerous working groups, all led by INAO.
Experts throughout France
To meet the growing challenges of organic farming, INAO has set up a dedicated department to coordinate the work of the various INAO departments involved in organic farming, and to act as the CNAB's executive secretariat. To this end, the division relies on a network of specialized agents from the délégations territoriales, responsible for acting as local contacts for professionals and providing operators with concrete answers.
Consult the map and contact details of INAO organic advisors (PDF format / 192ko)