The National Institute of origin and quality - Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO)

With its expertise forged over nearly 80 years, INAO ensures the recognition and protection of official signs identifying the quality and origin of agricultural, food and forestry.

The Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO) is a public administrative institution with legal personality, under the Ministry of agriculture, food and forestry.

INAO is responsible for the implementation of French policy on official signs of identification of the origin and quality of agricultural and food products:  appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC), protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), traditional specialty guaranteed (TSG), label rouge (LR) and organic farming (agriculture biologique (AB).

The French policy of quality of agricultural and food products implemented by the INAO is based on close collaboration between professionals grouped in defence and management organisations (organismes de défense et de gestion (ODG), the accredited inspection bodies, State services and the Institute.

All French regions are affected by these signs. In 2023, a farm out of three is listed in these steps.

Thus, INAO covers more than 1,200 products, among which are over 350 wines AOC / PDO, over 70 wines - PGI, 52 drinks in AOC or IG, nearly one hundred AOC /PDO food and more than a hundred PGI food products. It also follows more than 410 products specifications Label Rouge. By 30 June 2013, there were 25,000 farmers involved in organic farming.