Definition: National Institute of Origin.

INAO becomes INOQ The INAO (Institut national des appellations d'origine) has been transformed into the Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INOQ). Although the Institut national des appellations d'origine did indeed become the Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité on 1 January 2007, it has retained its logo and its initials, INAO.

Its remit now extends to all "signs of quality and origin".

The INAO is responsible for implementing French policy on products bearing official signs of origin and quality: appellation d'origine (designation of origin); IGP (protected geographical indication); label rouge (red label); STG (protected traditional speciality); and organic farming.
The Institute, headquartered in Paris, has 25 centres located throughout France.
The INAO's agents (approximately 250) assist producers in their efforts to obtain an official sign of origin and quality. Once the designation has been obtained, they continue to provide support, particularly in the context of their control mission, throughout the product's life cycle. In general, they prepare and implement the decisions of the INAO's governing bodies (see organisational chart).
The INAO's budget for 2007 is around €20 million. Its revenue consists of a ministerial grant of around 75%, fees collected on production, which represent around 20% of revenue, and various other sources, mainly royalties, in particular for processing applications for vineyard planting in appellations of origin.
AOC alcoholic beverages in 2008:
474 appellations (wines, spirits, cider products and rum);
In viticulture, AOCs represent 45% of French production;
These AOCs concern 75,000 farms;
Turnover:
€11.7 billion for wines;
€2 billion for spirits: Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados;
80% of which is generated by exports;
81% of the total turnover of French viticulture.
Websites: