Rennes (AFP)

The 11 meat AOP sectors have just created the "Federation of PDO Meats of France" in order to "make themselves better known" and defend their interests, we learned Friday from the new structure.

The constitutive general meeting was held Thursday in Roz-sur-Couesnon (Ille-et-Vilaine) and was led by Michel Ocafrain, representative of the sector AOP Porc Basque Kintoa.

"As AOP, we all live the same problems on a daily basis (...) It's really a spirit AOP that brings us together," told AFP the organizer of the new structure, Yannick Pochelon.

This federation is a means for these AOPs to stand out from existing associations or organizations in the meat sector, often run by large organizations.

"A PDO is a know-how, it is also a cultural heritage, a valorization of a territory.There is a strong link between a producer AOP and its territory, and the AOP is also a carrier of development tourism, "he said.

"PDOs are often usurped in terms of notoriety (...) Together, it will be easier to defend ourselves, as well as to support and help each other," said Pochelon.

The first AOP in beef dates from 1996 and was obtained by the Camargue Taurus, a meat produced from Camargue breeds and raised in this territory. In this new federation, there are also the AOPs for lambs from the salt marshes of the Baie de Somme or Mont-Saint-Michel, those of Barèges-Gavarnie, the poultry of Bresse, the Black of Bigorre (pork), the beef of Charolles and that of Maine-Anjou, charcuteries from Corsica based on pigs raised on the island.

This federation brings together 700 producers spread over thirty departments for a total turnover of "25 to 30 million per year" in marketing.

But beyond these direct jobs, thousands of indirect jobs depend on these sectors that, while maintaining the landscape, maintain a social and economic life in sometimes difficult territories, such as in mountain areas, added Mr. Pochelon .

The headquarters of the new federation is located in Haute-Loire, in Chaudeyrolles, also seat of the 11th AOP adherent, the Fin fat Mézenc (beef).

© 2019 AFP