Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualite (INAO)
Definition - What does Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualite (INAO) mean?
Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualite (INAO) is a French government wing that regulates French agricultural products based on geographical indications and traditional specialties. It is a part of the French Ministry Of Agriculture and one of its most essential functions is to circumscribe the geographic area meant for producing a product. This regulatory body demarcates the vineyard and the places of processing and aging for wine making.
WineFrog explains Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualite (INAO)
Previously known as Institut National des Appellations d'Origine, the INAO was established on August 1, 1935. Though government regulations and efforts had been in place for several years (starting 1905), the INAO formalized the regulation process. Like any establishment that works towards creating order and structure, this organization faced many controversies and obstacles in doing so.
Given the regulations imposed by the INAO, it took some time for the wine makers to warm up to the government body. In line with the the French law that grants government authority to allocate official boundaries for the production of certain agricultural products, the INAO has authority over around 500 wine appellations.
