Deemed too undemanding by environmental protection associations, the criteria allowing farms to access "High Environmental Value" (HVE) certification have been revised by the government, according to texts published on Tuesday in the Official Journal. .
The "High environmental value" is a standard created in 2012 by the French State, which encourages and recognizes the efforts of farmers to promote biodiversity or better manage water.
It does not prohibit the use of pesticides and fertilizers derived from synthetic chemistry, unlike organic farming.
The logo, featuring a farmhouse surrounded by fields and trees, topped with a sun and a butterfly, regularly appears on wine bottles or fruit and vegetable pouches.
It is often associated by its detractors with a label of “greenwashing”.
The "path B" removed
Significant change introduced by the texts published on Tuesday: the "path B" of access to this certification is removed.
It was particularly contested by associations for the defense of the environment and organic farming, because more than on precise performance indicators, this access route was based on a “global approach”.
Eligible under this heading were farmers whose purchases of inputs (pesticides, fertilizers, veterinary drugs, animal feed, electricity) represented less than 30% of turnover.
This "path B" therefore allowed "farms in sectors with high added value (viticulture) or high labor costs (market gardening)" to obtain certification, "without any improvement in their environmental performance", reproached the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI).
In its final version of the common agricultural policy for 2023-2027, the French government had proposed in July to strengthen the requirements of this HVE label, to "meet the ambitions of the CAP".
To respond to criticism from the European Commission, he had also decided to increase aid from the eco-regime – which rewards the most virtuous practices – for organic farms.
They were, in the first version of its national strategic plan (PSN), remunerated at the same level as those labeled HVE.