French trade groups FNAB, FOREBIO and SYNABIO have warned of “persistent limits of transparency over price and margins on organic products”, which they say makes it difficult to have a meaningful discussion about the organic pricing. 

The three organisations issued the warning in a joint statement following publication of the 2026 report of the Prix et des Margin Formation Observatory (OFPM), an annual report made to the French government which scrutinises prices of key food products to show how value is distributed between farmers, processors and retailers. 

While price remains the first brake on organic consumption for the French, a lack of clear data on the price differences between organic and conventional products creates potential additional hurdles.

Several recent studies on organic fruits and vegetables, including those by economist Olivier Mevel, of the UFC-Que Choisir, and those of the Senate Committee of Inquiry on Trade Relations, have highlighted significant differences in the distribution of value within organic sectors. They also highlight the need to better understand price formation and value-sharing mechanisms.

The three organic bodies say that OFPM, which is tasked with conducting independent and robust analysis of consumer goods pricing, should develop methodologies and collection tools that “fully take into account the specificities of organic products”. They say that of 33 products assessed by OGPM only 6 are subject to specific organic monitoring (butter, UHT milk, two fruits and two vegetables). Where organic-specific data does exist, it remains incomplete, their joint statement says.

FNAB, FOREBIO and SYNABIO say they want to see a widening of organic products included in OFPM’s ‘basket’ and efforts made to ensure meaningful comparative analysis between organic and non-organic products. 

They point out that 73% of French people want more transparency on food prices, and that it is difficult to have a “balanced debate on the price of organic without a significant improvement in public tools for economic transparency”.