Agricultural economic organisation, sectoral regulation and products

Accordingly, Alinea, Avocats Associés has developed recognised expertise in the economic organisation of agriculture and in sectoral regulation of agri-food supply chains and their products, including in relation to:

• the creation and recognition of associations as recognised agricultural interbranch organisations;
• the drafting of interbranch agreements submitted for extension, including financing agreements or agreements intended to make written contracting optional;
• the creation, structuring and recognition of producer organisations (POs) or associations of producer organisations (APOs);
• representation, both as claimant and defendant, before the French Conseil d’État and the Court of Justice of the European Union, in matters relating to the extension of interbranch agreements or recognition as an interbranch organisation.

Alinea, Avocats Associés also supports supply chains in promoting and substantiating the quality and origin of their products, and advises them on continuous improvement schemes and sustainability initiatives, including:

• the application of rules governing quality schemes in both the animal and plant sectors, as well as in the wine and spirits sector;
• procedures for amending specifications for official quality and origin schemes (SIQO), and related litigation concerning their approval or implementation (e.g., Label Rouge, PDO/PGI, organic production);
• the creation, export, distribution and defence of their products, quality schemes and trade marks;
• placing products on the market, notably as regards labelling requirements;
• and implementation of value-enhancement strategies and transitioning towards sustainable production methods.

Through these actions on behalf of a wide range of agri-food sectors, Alinea, Avocats Associés has further strengthened its expertise in a variety of areas, including:

• general and sector-specific food law (precautionary principle, hygiene, labelling, consumer information);
  environmental law;
• specific marketing standards arising from the Common Organisation of the Markets in agricultural products;
• issues linked to trade agreements with third countries for certain sensitive sectors (CETA, TTIP, MERCOSUR, New Zealand);
• and multilateral aspects of international trade (e.g., the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures).