Since 2003, any operator (producer, importer or processor) in the organic sector must register with the agency (notification form) and agree to be inspected by one of the five official French certification bodies: Aclave, Agrocert, Ecocert SAS, Qualité France or SGSICS.  Since 1st July 2005, distributors are also subject to the notification and inspection obligation.
The labelling on organic products must include certain mentions besides the usual data:
- reference to the production method,
- the name and/or registered number of the certifying body,
- the exact ratios of organic ingredients in finished products, which contain between 70% (legal minimum) and 95%.

There are also techniques like weeding by mechanical means or solar energy, integrated organic pest control, thermotherapy, centrifugal tree management (thinning), natural tannic treatments, natural manures and compost, crop rotation, or the use of CO2 (fruit storage) and ethylene (degreening). Other practices are banned, however, such as GMO, SO2 diffusers, ionization treatments, hydroponics, etc.

France is in 15th place with 3.2%. Organic farming has developed significantly in Central and Eastern European countries and it now accounts for 15% of Europe’s total cultivated area. The Czech Republic and Poland represent 60% of the total for these countries. Germany is still the largest EU market (€5.8 billion), well ahead of France (€2.6 billion). As regards the organic budget per inhabitant, Denmark (6%) heads the list, followed by Austria, Luxembourg and Germany. Organic products are steadily growing in the EU, following the example of vegetables, where the surface area has more than doubled in three years.

(24,220 ha, or 10.8% of its total cultivated area) is the most organic department in France. It is also meets market requirements through regular supplies, batch traceability and the quality of the products. Aquaculture creates direct jobs and also contributes to the emergence of indirect jobs tied to other types of development (restocking rivers and ponds, small packaging and processing units) and the creation of business activities downstream (processing and packaging companies). As regards the 7, 400 processing and distribution companies, over 65% are devoted to making bakery products and pasta. As for imports, the principal products are essential oils and aromatic plants, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed fruit and vegetables, cereals and seeds, and animal feeds.

With an annual growth of 10%, the market for organic food products totalled €2.7 billion in 2008. Representing 1.7% (in value) of the total food sector, it breaks down as follows: supermarkets (42%), organic retail chains (27%), independent organic retailers (13%), direct selling (13%), traditional shops/frozen foods (5%).
The line has developed over the last decade and now covers the following product families: groceries (18%), fruit and vegetables (17%), dairy products (16%), bread and flour (13%), wine (10%), eggs (7%), meat products (6%), poultry (3%), seafood products (3%), processed products (3%) and cooked/salted meats (1%).
Organic agriculture has really taken off and in 2009 it recorded a sharp rise in development with the conversion of 3,600 new producers (+23% compared with 2008). This is the biggest growth since 1995 and three regions now exceed 30% conversion: Languedoc - Roussillon, Ile-de-France and Provence-Côte d’Azur. Similarly, the surface area rose 21% in the EU over the last three years.

- the large and medium-sized retailer clientele (supermarkets),
- the e-business clientele.
Fresh fruit and vegetables take the biggest share of this overall offer, ahead of dairy products and creams, seafood products, meat and poultry products, groceries and catered products, plus niche organic products.
It is a traditional wholesale offer for the producers’ floor clientele and a full service offer (order preparation, packaging and deliveries) for the other types of clientele.

Crédit photo : FD

Henri de Pazzis
(President of ProNatura)

“After five years as an organic market gardener, I started up ProNatura in 1987 to export organic fruit and vegetables from Provence to Germany. Then ProNatura opened up other sources and destinations (France, Switzerland, UK, etc.). We work with organic wholesalers and stores, mass distribution, industry, the catering trade, etc.
After investing in production from the start, we bring local produce to market through ProNatura Bretagne, ProNatura Provence or ProNatura Méditerranée (Perpignan) and we produce citrus fruit (Morocco) and pineapples (Togo). ProNatura Rungis allows us to better service the specialized organic retail trade. The French market for organic products has had an annual average growth of 10% since 1999. With 2.6 billion euros in 2008, it represents 1.7% of the food market. Fruit and vegetables account for 451 million euros. France has 584,000 hectares devoted to organic agriculture (2.12% of total cultivated area) including 20,000 hectares for fruit and vegetables.
Comparatively speaking, France is far behind the European heavyweights in terms of organic arable land: Austria (13%), Sweden (9.8%) or Italy (9%). Germany is the biggest market (€5.8 billion), well ahead of France (€2.6 billion). The growth slowed at the end of 2009, under the impact of several factors: a higher number of conversions, productions previously exported (European markets, particularly the UK, in difficulty) remained in France and the arrival of Mediterranean productions previously aimed at northern Europe. Organic agriculture underpins an agronomic pace and commercial attitudes that are different. Conversion and the technical skills to forego chemicals represent radical changes. The market has to allow for these special considerations.  It is not a matter of limits, but more a framework to guarantee the long term future of organic farming and this business model. The organic market must continue to grow to meet demand and find its place in the catering trade to permit genuine local development. Smooth development will only be achieved with quality technical support and by respecting the founding principles of organic agriculture – the producers must be able to earn a living from farming.”

Crédit photo : FD

Markus Zeiher
(Manager of Dynamis - Rungis)

“We sell just over 5,000 tons of organic fruit and vegetable a year from French (40%) and foreign (60%) producers. While our exports are down due to a crisis in Anglo-Saxon countries, Parisians on the contrary are buying more and more organic products. We created the Campanier for them, an assortment of seasonal organic fruit and vegetables, segmented by four weight options (2 kg to 5 kg) and sold at a set price that has not changed for twelve years. Even if the price is higher, we noticed that the demand continues to grow.  
In 2009, which was a bad year, the organic market remained stable compared to other sectors that were seriously affected and we in turn grew by 6%. This is due to the consumers, who are convinced, loyal people willing to support the operators in the sector. Organic agriculture is the best alternative to guarantee sustainable development of the planet, the future of which is inherent in certain political choices. I remain optimistic about the years ahead.”

Pascal Gury
(President of GIP Agence Bio)

“Based in South Vendée, I farm 133 hectares of staple cereals, oilseed crops and dried vegetables under organic agriculture. I converted a first part of my farm in 1997, and the whole farm in 2000. Since January 2009, I am the President of Agence Bio (a public interest group to promote organic agriculture) and a member of the organic commission of the FNSEA (French farmers association).
With consumption up 10% a year, organic agriculture is doing quite well in our country, which is among the five largest European producers. Today, it represents nearly 3% of the arable land and should rise to 6% by 2012. Over the next few years, the target of 20% consumption of organic products in local authorities (school canteens, etc.) is not utopian. The organic market is in full development in France and to satisfy the growth in consumption we have to rely on trade with our European neighbours, particularly for fruit and vegetables, in short supply in France. Despite relatively high prices, organic products were not much affected by the crisis in 2009 and some prices, like organic cereals, dropped by 20%. The expansion of organic agriculture is explained by the quality of the products, the growing number of consumers and their loyalty. However, it suffers from high labour costs and a limited level of research and production. Tied to a policy of sustainable development, organic agriculture is guaranteed a rosy future.”