The Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) is France’s national Institute of Origin and Quality (the former Institut National des Appellations d’Origine). It was created in Paris in 1935. Controlled by the French government, it forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture. It regulates French agricultural products with Protected Designations of Origin. It is a public body whose President is appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture. All the files concerning the DOP, IGP, Label Rouge and AB (certified organic) brands must pass through this Institute. The five committees in which it is divided, always appointed by the minister, examine, approve, modify or reject the dossiers that are subsequently sent to the Ministry of Agriculture for validation or for sending to the European Commission in Brussels.