Organic Quality Labels Explained: the AB Certificate

Choosing organic can raise a few questions. At Thés & Traditions, all our teas are AB certified. With so many organic tea labels out there, you may wonder whether the AB certificate carries any real weight. To clarify: the AB (Agriculture Biologique) certificate is an official quality label that complies with both European and French regulations. Obtaining this certification involves meeting a strict set of criteria.

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AB certification: an official mark of organic quality

Organic farming is a method of production that respects the environment. Organic labels are the marks that give consumers confidence in that commitment. AB certification, one of these labels, follows a set of requirements defined by both European and French regulations and is subject to strict official oversight. It applies to every actor in the organic food chain, including:

farmers;
processors;
distributors.

The AB certificate is visible on our products through both the French AB logo and the European organic logo. It confirms that our teas meet organic farming standards. The AB certificate is therefore a mark of quality for every product sold by Thés & Traditions.

How is the AB certificate awarded?

The AB certificate can only be obtained after passing several stages of verification. The AB mark is owned by the French Ministry of Agriculture, and its use is governed by specific usage rules, as is the European organic logo.
The steps to obtain AB certification are:

declaring the activity of selling organic products to the Agence Bio;
passing an inspection carried out by a certification body accredited by the INAO (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité);
applying to use the AB mark for certification purposes (and receiving approval) in order to display it on products.

Inspections by INAO-accredited certification bodies (such as Ecocert, Eurofins, Alpes Contrôles and AFNOR, to name a few) are renewed at least once a year.
The AB-certified tea from Thés & Traditions meets all of these quality criteria. It brings you all the benefits of organic farming: our teas are grown without pesticides or GMOs, and harvested under sustainable, fair conditions.

Want to go further?
Learn more about the French Agency for the Development and Promotion of Organic Farming.