Summary
Are you a farmer or producer and want to have your quality product certified, to differentiate it, for example, by virtue of its production method?
Alongside the European quality scheme for geographical indications (GIs) and organic production, there is a differentiated regional quality labelling system: the "Qualité Plus" label.
You can apply to register your differentiated quality product, either on your own or as part of an industry organised through a promoter.
- If the quality pathway does not exist: contact Agrilabel to prepare your application file for accreditation and draw up the specifications
- If the quality pathway already exists: you must notify your activity to the accredited independent certifying body for the product in question. Find the list in "Useful links" below
QUALITÉ PLUS: THE OFFICIAL REGIONAL LABEL
Qualité Plus enables the recognition of agricultural products and foodstuffs that differ from standard production
- by virtue of their production method or
- of the added value quality of the finished products obtained in accordance with approved specifications.
See under "Conditions" the differentiated quality criteria, which are as follows:
- Four mandatory principles
- and at least one differentiation from standard products
ADVANTAGES OF CERTIFICATION
You obtain direct benefits from the certification of your product:
- the exclusive right to the designation
- protection against misappropriation
- a certification subsidy (can be requested through the CAP statement) for farmers who participate in the Walloon quality system (Qualité Plus differentiated quality), also in the European ones (PDO, PGI, TSG, organic)
Remember that the brand becomes collective, and that this certification and recognition process takes time, often, several months.
Checks on compliance with product specifications are a guarantee of trust for consumers.
STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT YOU
The specifications document is the main document of your application file. It will be reviewed or extended every three years.
Several stakeholders will accompany you:
- The Walloon authority, our Direction de la Qualité et du Bien-être animal (DQBEA) [Directorate of the Quality and welfare of animals] of the SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (ARNE in French). We have an advisory and administrative follow-up role in this certification process
- Agrilabel, a support unit backed by the SPW (Walloon Public Services), also helps you prepare your application file for approval as well as the specifications. This support is free of charge
- The APAQ-W promotes the Qualité Plus label and approved specifications
- The independent certifying bodies monitor compliance with the corresponding specifications for the approval of quality products. You must nominate a candidate independent certifying body in your accreditation application file
INTERESTED?
Getting certified has costs. Contact the independent certifying body of the already recognised differentiated quality product to find out what aid and amount of aid is available in Wallonia.
Find out about the procedure for requesting certification in more detail below.
In detail
Operators who wish to:
- apply for certification of an existing differentiated quality designation (see list in "Useful links" section)
- or have their product certified as a differentiated quality product
These operators may or may not be organised within an industry through a promoter.
DIFFERENTIATED QUALITY CRITERIA
The differentiation is based on four mandatory principles:
- the family nature of agricultural holdings
- the fair allocation of margins and guarantee of significant financial gain for the farmer
- a balanced relationship between the agricultural development and the expectations of society
- the exclusion of GMOs
In order to obtain the label, your product must also differ on at least one other point (including, but not limited to):
- local sourcing at various stages of the supply chain
- impact on the environment
- impact on human health
- animal welfare
- the ethics and social responsibility of operators in the sector
- the organoleptic quality of the products
- the nutritional and dietary quality of products
- the sanitary quality of the products or their traceability
- …
CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUING THE ACCREDITATION
- Review of the specifications every 3 years
- If the content is still valid: the accreditation continues
- If the content is no longer valid: either the Minister approves new specifications or withdraws them
- Any amendment to the specifications is subject to an application to the DQBEA, which assesses whether the amendment is major or minor
The application may be made in French or German.
CASE 1: You want to apply for certification of an existing differentiated quality designation
Contact the independent certifying body of the product in question in order to complete the formalities to notify your activity and have it start the checking process.
What is the cost of my certification? The certification cost estimates can be obtained from the independent certifying body in charge of the specific label. Certification subsidies can also be used to cover this expense.
CASE 2: You want to create a new differentiated quality designation
- Motivation of one or more operator(s) to have a product recognised
- Send an email to the Direction de la Qualité et du Bien-être Animal (Directorate of the quality and welfare of animals) with a copy to Agrilabel summarising your request
- Our management, in collaboration with Agrilabel, will examine the admissibility of your request
- We will contact you to arrange a meeting to get you started
- We will provide you with guidance and counselling in order to complete the specifications and prepare the application file for approval
- Once the file is complete, an official request for accreditation, including the specifications, will be sent by regular mail or email to the DQBEA
- Acknowledgement of receipt within 10 days
- If the file is complete, a group of at least three experts will be convened to examine the specifications
- Experts' questions to the sponsor/operator
- Experts' opinion within 3 months of receipt of the applicant’s answers. If there is no reply within 12 months, the application expires
- Within 30 days of receipt of the opinion, a justified proposal from the DQBEA is submitted for the accreditation of the Minister of Agriculture
- Accreditation of the specifications by the Minister (NB an independent certifying body must also be approved.)
- Publication of a ministerial accreditation order in the Belgian Official Gazette
Information to be provided in your file:
- the specifications
- the intended use of the regional quality mark
- the name of the independent certifying body(ies) candidate(s) for certification. They will have to be approved by the Minister of Agriculture
- additional factors proving the differentiated nature of the method of production or of the products
WHAT IF THE GROUP OF EXPERTS ISSUES AN UNFAVOURABLE OPINION?
The experts provide detailed feedback on the specifications. Discussions with the promoter about the deficiencies are held. If the specification is unsuccessful, the applicant may resubmit an amended version, on the basis of the comments received.
- Walloon Code of Agriculture, Articles D.6, § 1 and 4, D.7, D.17, D.61, D.179 to D.183 and D.426, §2, 3rd (only available in French)
- Walloon Government Order of 15 May 2014 establishing the regional differentiated quality system for agricultural products and foodstuffs, as amended by the Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016 and by the Walloon Government Order of 28 April 2022 (only available in French)
- Ministerial Order of 2 September 2011 defining detailed rules for the recognition of specifications on the basis of differentiated quality in the poultry production sector (only available in French)
- Ministerial Order of 12 June 2015 defining the minimum industry requirements for drawing up the specifications for the production of pork of a differentiated quality (only available in French)
- Ministerial Order of 12 June 2015 defining the minimum industry requirements for drawing up the specifications for the production of differentiated quality bread (only available in French)