Others

Associate members

The College of associate members is a consultative body composed of organisations that have signed a partnership agreement with AREPO and wish to sit in it: thematic, territorial and scientific organisation, networks, etc.

AREPO associate members are currently the following:

  • AFIGIA | Association of Industrial and Artisanal Geographical Indications
  • Euro Foie Gras | European Federation of Foie Gras
  • ERG SYAL | European Research Group on Localized Agri-food Systems
  • ERPA | European Rural Poultry Association
  • FedeLIS | Federation of Label Rouge, GIs and TSGs
  • FEVAO | French Federation of Designation of Origin Meats
  • UniPR | Università di Parma

To find out more about our associate members and our partnership agreements, take a look below!


AFIGIA | Association of Industrial and Artisanal Geographical Indications

Created on 22 January 2015, the French Association of Industrial and Artisanal Geographical Indications (AFIGIA) was formed a few months after the adoption of the French law known as “Hamon” which introduced GIs for artisanal products. This professional federation brings together traditional French products of national and international renown, strongly anchored economically in their territories, concerned with maintaining and developing employment in their respective areas, such as “Granit de Bretagne” (stone); “Sièges de Liffol” (chairs); natural stones from Nouvelle-Aquitaine including “Pierre d’Arudy” and “Pierre de Dordogne”; “Porcelaine de Limoges” (porcelain); “Linge Basque” (linen); “Tapis d’Aubusson” (carpet) et “Tapisserie d’Aubusson” (tapestry); “Charentaises de Charente-Périgord” (slippers); “Couteau de Laguiole” (knife); “Santons de Provence” (crib figures) and “Horlogerie franc-comtoise” (horology), to mention only those. To date, 92% of the GIs approved by the INPI are members of the Association. These GI sectors regularly exchange information on various topics, allowing for an exhaustive and expert knowledge of the system.

AFIGIA is today the only national structure representing GIs for manufactured products. It is recognised as such by several French, European and international institutions. It recently obtained observer status at WIPO.

Partnership agreement

Non-agricultural GIs are real assets for our territories and allow the international promotion of the excellence of our knowledge and skills – and products. These products and sectors deserve to be protected at the European level, in the same way as agricultural and agri-food products.

In order to carry out its tasks of defending, developing and promoting geographical indications and other European quality systems, AREPO – its member regions and their producers – relies on political considerations backed up by technical and scientific data.

AFIGIA is a competent, recognised and representative actor of producers and producer organisations of quality products and origin under EU quality schemes.

The cooperation between AREPO and AFIGIA aims to:

  • reinforce AREPO’s points of view and actions by enhancing the information provided by AFIGIA;
  • bring questions, needs for information and points of view of the AREPO regions and producers to the attention of AFIGIA, which will be able to express points of view.

Euro Foie Gras | European Federation of Foie Gras

Euro Foie Gras is the European Federation of Foie Gras. Created in 2008 in Strasbourg, it includes the federations of Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, France and Hungary. It therefore brings together all the producer countries of the European Union. Euro Foie Gras represents all the links in the production chain (breeders, breeders, producers, processors and abattoirs).

Partnership agreement

Euro Foie Gras and AREPO are both committed to the defence and promotion of agricultural and food products that come from European regions and the know-how of the men and women of these territories. Euro Foie Gras and AREPO are committed to the defence of the agricultural, cultural and food heritage of rural societies and more broadly of the European Union.

Today, these products are confronted with numerous challenges linked to environmental, societal, economic and political developments.
This is why Euro Foie Gras and AREPO wished to sign this cooperation charter which will allow Euro Foie Gras to become an associate member of AREPO and AREPO to call on Euro Foie Gras’ expertise.

In carrying out its missions to defend, develop and promote geographical indications and other European quality systems, AREPO – its member regions and their producers – relies on political considerations backed up by technical and scientific data.

Euro Foie Gras is a competent, recognised and representative actor of producers and producer organisations of quality and origin products under European quality schemes.

The cooperation between AREPO and Euro Foie Gras aims to

  • to reinforce AREPO’s points of view and actions by enhancing the information provided by Euro Foie Gras;
  • to bring the questions, information needs and points of view of AREPO’s regions and producers to the attention of Euro Foie Gras, which will be able to express its points of view;

ERG SYAL | European Research Group on Localized Agri-food Systems

The ERG SYAL gathers together a great number of research institutions from different European countries with the following missions:  

  • to develop scientific research applied to the local Agrifood development;
  • to develop teaching and training oriented to the enhancement of knowledge and skills in this field;
  • to provide a scientific basis to analyse and to give information on sustainable local development strategies to the public opinion;
  • to provide technical assistance for the design of public policies, legislative regulations, public and private strategies and other types of frameworks for cooperation and negotiation between local actors;
  • to serve as a platform for launching initiatives and projects for further European and international cooperation (for instance, the European Research Framework Program) on sustainable local development activities and Agri-food systems;
  • to strengthen the cooperation with non-European countries to develop research applied to the problems of Localised Agri-food systems;
  • to promote the publication and diffusion of relevant information and research results for the welfare of the civil society.

Partnership agreement

In the framework of the DG AGRI Week of Stakeholders, AREPO organized in collaboration with ERG SYAL a high-level seminar on GIs: “Innovating and Organising Research, Education and Training for Sustainable GIs”, in the EU Pavilion at Expo. The seminar underlined the need for support and funding at EU level on research, education and training on GIs.

AREPO continued to work in collaboration with ERG SYAL to capitalise on the seminar’s conclusions. As a result, in December 2015, AREPO presented to the European Commission a position paper as a contribution to the consultation process for the definition of the EU long-term strategy for agricultural research and innovation. This document carries AREPO and ERG SYAL logo, accompanied by the text line “in collaboration with”.

It aims at assuring that the research needs and issues related to Local agro-food systems and GIs will be taken into account and included, highlighting their potential for a sustainable rural development. It focuses on the primary sector and its links with the food chain and rural development. Furthermore, it establishes relevant links to thebioeconomy strategy. It argues that Localized agro-food systems and quality and origin products can contribute to sustainable bioeconomy, thanks to their innovation potential in the governance of the food system at local/regional level and in the sustainable use of resources.

A second outcome concerns the development and strengthening of working relations between AREPO and ERG SYAL.

In order to achieve its goals concerning defense, development and promotion of GIs and other EU quality systems, AREPO, together with its member regions and its producers, bases its actions on political considerations supported by scientific and technical data.

The ERG SYAL, thanks to its member institutions, is one of the leading providers of scientific data and research specialised on quality systems.

The cooperation between AREPO and ERG SYAL aims at:

  • strengthening AREPO positions and actions by better refocusing them with the help of scientific information produced by the ERG SYAL;
  • bringing questions and research needs highlighted by AREPO regions and producers to the attention of ERG SYAL and its members that could include them in their research;
  • strengthening the European research and innovation policy in favor of geographical indications, EU quality systems and Localized Agrifood Systems.

ERPA | European Rural Poultry Association

ERPA is a European association created to represent professional rural poultry producers in the EU. It aims to preserve rural poultry production and its genetic diversity in Europe, in particular by having its particularities recognised in European regulations. Rural poultry represents a wide range of production, including GI, Label Rouge and organic production.

Partnership agreement

ERPA and AREPO are both committed to the defence and promotion of agricultural and food products that come from European regions and the know-how of the men and women of these territories. ERPA and AREPO are committed to the defence of the agricultural, cultural and food heritage of rural societies and more broadly of the European Union.

Today, these products are confronted with numerous challenges linked to environmental, societal, economic and political developments.
This is why ERPA and AREPO wished to sign this cooperation charter which will allow ERPA to become an associate member of AREPO and AREPO to request ERPA’s expertise.

In carrying out its tasks of defending, developing and promoting geographical indications and other European quality systems, AREPO – its member regions and their producers – relies on political considerations backed up by technical and scientific data. ERPA is a competent, recognised and representative actor of producers and producer organisations of quality products and origin under EU quality schemes.

The cooperation between AREPO and ERPA aims to:

  • to strengthen AREPO’s points of view and actions by enhancing the information provided by ERPA;
  • to bring the questions, information needs and points of view of AREPO’s regions and producers to the attention of ERPA, which will be able to express its points of view.

FedeLIS | Federation of Label Rouge, GIs and TSGs

FedeLIS aims to federate all the GDOs in France that manage a Label Rouge, GI or TSG specification. FedeLIS thus represents 95% of Label Rouge and about 60 PGI. FedeLIS’ mission is to ensure the defence and representation of Red Labels, Geographical Indications (PGIs, and AOC/AOPs other than wines and dairy products) and TSGs (Traditional Specialities Guaranteed) with the French and European public authorities, the INAO and professional organisations. It is a forum for discussion, reflection and consultation on quality and origin policy. It provides information to its members on all cross-cutting issues. FedeLIS is also responsible for promoting Label Rouge, GI and TSG products.

Partnership agreement

FedeLIS and AREPO are both committed to the defence and promotion of agricultural and food products that come from European regions and the know-how of the men and women of these territories, and in particular products with origin identification signs. FedeLIS and AREPO are committed to the defence of the agricultural, cultural and food heritage of rural societies and more broadly of the European Union.

Today, these products are confronted with numerous challenges linked to environmental, societal, economic and political developments.
This is why FedeLIS and AREPO wished to sign this cooperation charter which will allow FedeLIS to become an associate member of AREPO and AREPO to request FedeLIS’ expertise.

In carrying out its tasks of defending, developing and promoting geographical indications and other European quality systems, AREPO – its member regions and their producers – relies on political considerations backed up by technical and scientific data.

FedeLIS is a competent, recognised and representative actor of producers and producer organisations of quality products and origin under EU quality schemes.

The cooperation between AREPO and FedeLIS aims to:

  • to strengthen AREPO’s points of view and actions by enhancing the information provided by FedeLIS;
  • to bring the questions, information needs and points of view of AREPO’s regions and producers to the attention of FedeLIS, which will be able to express its points of view.

FEVAO | French Federation of Designation of Origin Meats

In December 2019, the 11 French meat sectors recognised as Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and/or Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) noted that they shared common values through these AOCs/AOPs which unite them around the following elements:

  • the authenticity of their products;
  • the cultural and heritage dimension of their products;
  • the know-how of men and women;
  • the economic and social interest of the PDO/AOC sectors for their respective territories;
  • the traditional practices of these products.

This is why, considering that these common values lead them to share the interest of defending and promoting them, the ODG (Organismes de Défense et de Gestion) of the founding AOC/AOP decided to federate by creating the FEVAO in order to:

  • structure and lead a network of defence and management bodies (ODG) of the AOC/PDO meats of France as well as all other stakeholders involved in the defence of the origin of meat products under AOC/PDO on the French territories;
  • ensure the recognition, promotion and defence of the notion of AOC/PDO for “meat” products;
  • fight against usurpation and counterfeiting that penalise AOCs/PDOs and all types of infringement against AOCs/PDOs;
  • develop information actions aimed at increasing the awareness of its members, and more generally of the AOC/PDO meats, among the general public and consumers by all means of promotional actions but also among all partners likely to represent an interest for the development of the activities of the sectors concerned;
  • join other structures whose missions contribute to the achievement of the Association’s objectives;
  • develop exchanges and knowledge between its members by setting up all types of actions to support and help the member AOCs/PDOs, to develop a spirit of solidarity, to energise and vitalise the activities of each sector. The association may initiate collective projects or work to pool resources;
  • defend the material and moral interests of its members by all means and with all national, European and international bodies, in particular by taking legal action, on the basis of the provisions of Articles L.115-16 et seq. and L.121-1 et seq. of the Consumer Code.

Partnership agreement

Given the European nature of AREPO, coupled with the fact that it is territorially based and brings together regions which themselves have products and producers under the SIQO, the points of convergence with the FEVAO’s objectives are numerous and coherent with regard to the reasons which led the PDO meats to join forces.

Thus, AREPO’s missions are in line with those of the FEVAO and those that PDO meats believe they fulfil for their territories, namely:

  • the development of geographical indications (GI) and quality products as tools for territorial development and planning;
  • the guarantee of good income conditions for producers;
  • ensuring appropriate communication and correct information for the consumer.

They are also in line with the issues identified by the FEVAO in the field of the defence of PDO meats, at French and European level, namely:

  • the strengthening of European policy on geographical indications and products of origin;
  • lobbying to ensure adequate protection of products (PDO meats in particular) on the European market, as well as on third markets;
  • lobbying actions to ensure that the specificities of PDOs find their rightful place in promotion policies.

On the basis of these elements of convergence of interests and motivations, AREPO and FEVAO consider that the concretisation of a partnership under the status of associate member is judicious.

In carrying out its tasks of defending, developing and promoting GIs and other EU quality systems, AREPO – its member regions and their producers – relies on political considerations backed up by technical and scientific data.

FEVAO is a competent, recognised and representative actor of producers and producer organisations of quality products and origin under European quality schemes.

The cooperation between AREPO and FEVAO aims to:

  • strengthen AREPO’s points of view and actions by enhancing the information provided by FEVAO;
  • bring the questions, information needs and points of view of AREPO’s regions and producers to the attention of FEVAO, which will be able to express its points of view.

UniPR | Università di Parma

University of Parma is a State University. As such, it is self-governing and has administrative, organisational, and accountancy autonomy, while providing tailored services for students. Its centuries-old history dates back to 13th March 962, when Emperor Ottonian I conferred on Uberto, the Bishop of Parma, the initiation of the University in the ‘Diploma’: this document, which granted the Bishop the power to order and elect legal leaders (‘eligere et ordinare notarios’), was the foundation for an educational institution that would last centuries later, and is still preserved in the Bishop’s Archives in Parma today.

The University holds 9 Departments, 39 First Cycle Degree Courses, 6 Single Cycle Degree Courses, 41 Second Cycle Degree Courses (5 of which entirely held in English), as well as many Postgraduate schools, Teacher Training courses, several Master Programmes and PhDs.

The University of Parma offers 3 undergraduate and 3 Master’s degree courses in Food Science and Management, directly related to the topic of the Geographical Indications. Consult our Map of formative offers to know more.

Mission of University of Parma is to promote knowledge creation, transfer and progress to meet the increasing demand of advanced education and research in our society.

In particular, UniPR supports GIs production by means activity of research and knowledge transfer for the GIs Consortia of Regione Emilia Romagna.

Partnership agreement

In order to achieve its goals concerning defense, development and promotion of GIs and other EU quality systems, AREPO, together with its member regions and its producers, bases its actions on political considerations supported by scientific and technical data.

In the framework of the DG AGRI Week of Stakeholders in Expo Milan 2015, AREPO organised in collaboration with the European Research Group SYAL a high-level seminar on Geographical Indications: “Innovating and Organising Research, Education and Training for Sustainable GIs”, in the EU Pavilion. The seminar underlined the need for support and funding at EU level on research, education and training on GIs.

In 2017, in order to work more effectively on these issues, AREPO decided to set up a scientific committee composed of research centres/universities from AREPO regions. This body should work in constant interaction with AREPO member regions.

University of Parma is one of the leading providers of scientific data and research specialised on quality systems. Furthermore, the University of Parma offers Bachelors, Master of Science and PhD programs focusing on GIs and Food Quality Products.

The cooperation between AREPO and the University of Parma aims at:

  • developing common actions on education and training, socio-economic analysis and exchange of good-practices concerning rural and territorial development, with a particular focus on geographical indications, EU quality systems and Localized Agrifood Systems;
  • building common positions and actions on geographical indications, EU quality systems and Localized Agrifood Systems with the support of scientific information produced by University of Parma;
  • define together questions and research needs concerning geographical indications, EU quality systems and Localized Agrifood Systems;
  • strengthening the European research and innovation policy in favor of geographical indications, EU quality systems and Localized Agrifood Systems;
  • Increasing support and funding at EU level on education and training programmes on GIs and EU quality systems.