On February 1st, 2024, during a joint conference, the Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, announced strengthened controls targeting products labeled “Made in France.” This decision comes in the context of the need to ensure the sovereignty of agriculture, emphasized by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, in the face of persistent anger from farmers.

Identifying the origin of French products can be challenging because origin marking is not mandatory for all products. Some agricultural, food, and cosmetic products, such as fruits and vegetables, dairy products, olive oil, fish products, or meat, are subject to this obligation of marking. However, for manufactured products, origin marking remains optional, left to the discretion of manufacturers, importers, traders, and distributors. The rules for using the “Made in France” label require that the product meets the non-preferential origin rules defined by the European Union Customs Code.

As a reminder, the product must have been entirely manufactured in France or undergone its last substantial transformation in the country. The criteria for determining this substantial transformation depend on the customs nomenclature, including a change in nomenclature, a minimum percentage of value added in France, a maximum percentage of non-originating materials from France, or the completion of a specific transformation for textiles.

It is essential to be wary of French flags, maps, and symbols on packaging, as Law No. 2021-1357 prohibits this deceptive practice when primary ingredients are not of French origin unless their origin can be guaranteed.

Consumers can also rely on quality labels such as Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), or Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC). The “Origine garantie France” label concerns 2,000 product ranges and 600 companies, guaranteeing that the place where the product acquires its essential characteristics is located in France and that at least 50% of the unit cost price is acquired in France. Other labels such as “France Terre Textile” and “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” also ensure French origin, with specific specifications verified by independent third-party organizations.

In response to the growing consumer demand for “Made in France” products, the Minister of Economy announced over 10,000 inspections to ensure the authenticity of products claiming French origin in large supermarket chains.