Agriculture
What is an agricultural activity in the eyes of the law?
By Yasmine EDDAM17 April 2025The traditional image of the farmer, often associated with working the land and raising livestock in a family setting, has changed considerably. Today, agriculture covers a much more diverse and complex economic reality. From energy production to tourism, the facets of this sector have multiplied. This diversification raises a fundamental question: what legally defines an agricultural activity? The answer is not just theoretical, but has very real consequences for farmers in terms of legal status, social security arrangements and taxation. This article aims to shed some light on the legal definition of agricultural activity in France. We will examine the essential criteria laid down by law, in particular the notion of biological cycle, and the activities considered to be agricultural by extension. We will also look at specific cases that illustrate the sometimes subtle contours of this qualification and its practical implications. For a broader understanding of...
Legal tools specific to the modern farmer (farm business, EIRL, insolvency proceedings)
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawToday's farm is much more than just a place of production: it's a real business. Like any business, it has specific needs in terms of financing, asset enhancement and protection of the farmer's assets, and must be able to cope with economic uncertainties. Aware of these...Choosing the right structure: agricultural companies and cooperatives
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawGone are the days when farming was almost exclusively the preserve of individual farmers. Today, to pool investment, share work and risks, optimise taxation or prepare for the transfer of the farm, many farmers are choosing to form a group. But what legal form does this take? French law offers a...The farmer and the market: contracts, distribution and competition rules
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawFar from being an isolated player, the modern farmer is at the heart of a complex network of economic relationships. He engages in dialogue, negotiates and contracts with his suppliers upstream, his customers downstream (cooperatives, manufacturers, distributors, consumers), and has to deal with a dense regulatory framework, including competition rules. The way in which...The legal framework for agriculture today: understanding the key issues
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawFrench agriculture, rich in diversity and tradition, is also a sector undergoing profound change. Faced with new economic, environmental and social challenges, farmers have to navigate an increasingly complex legal environment. This legal framework, which combines old rules with new ones, is...The agricultural integration contract in brief: what you need to know
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawAre you a farmer working closely with a food company, feed supplier, abattoir or processing plant? Your relationship may be governed by an integration contract, a very specific legal arrangement with precise rights and obligations for each party. Understanding the...Collective integration contracts and the move towards economic dependence
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawThe individual integration contract, a direct link between a farmer and a company, is just one aspect of the legislator's desire to organise agro-industrial relations. As early as the 1960s, tools were put in place to encourage a collective approach, via interprofessional agreements and standard contracts. The idea was...Integration contract: conditions of validity and focus on livestock farming
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawSigning an integration contract involves the farmer in an often intense economic and legal relationship with a company. But be careful: to be valid and effective, this contract must comply with very precise formal conditions imposed by law. A poorly drafted or incomplete contract simply runs the risk of being...The agricultural integration contract: definition, nature and key obligations
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawIntegration is a growing economic reality in French agriculture. For many farmers, this means structuring their relationships with those downstream in the supply chain, particularly processing and marketing companies. While this type of organisation can provide outlets and a degree of security, it also raises a number of issues...
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