What is APE code?

What is APE code?

definition

The APE code An identifier issued by INSEE when a company is officially created. It is earned according to the declared core activity of the company. A business manager does not need to take any action to receive it, its receipt is completely automatic.

This identifier is divided into two families, allowing to specify its field of operation:

• If assigned to entities belonging to the same organization (ET = Entities) it is called APET code;
• If it is about a company or self-employed person it is called APEN code (EN = companies).

It should be noted that APE code and NAF code are identical.

Where to find it?

The NAF code accurately determines the main branch of activity of the economic system. It is contained in many of the company’s administrative documents, which are also public information.

The APE code is thus found in many legal documents. This is a mandatory statement that must be included in company employees’ pay slips and invoices for example. Additionally, it should be included when writing the employment contract.

Other documents such as a SIRENE situation alert or a KBIS extract refer to this identifier.

If an outsider wants to know the APE code of another company, he has the possibility to request various reference sites. This is especially true for the official INSEE website or some websites specializing in legal and financial information for companies.

What do the letters of the APE code correspond to?

An APE code is a code consisting of five characters: 4 digits and 1 letter. They are consistent with NAF’s validated classification; Nomenclature of French Activities:

• The first two digits indicate the sector of activity in which the company operates, whether it is a company or self-employed;
• The third digit describes the first division by specifying the subtype;
• The fourth digit determines the class of the segment in which the function is located.

This series of four digits follows the NACE classification system: this is the European classification.

• Finally, a letter with four digits gives more characteristics by following the map of the French economy.

With these combinations that categorize companies based on the functional sector, it is easy to quickly understand and determine the main activity carried out by a company.

Five major categories

The five main categories of APE codes are divided by number as follows:

• 0 to 09: Agricultural Activities Department;
• 10 to 30: Industry and Manufacturing Sector;
• 41 to 43: Construction Sector;
• 45 to 47: Department of Commerce;
• 49 to 99: Service sector.

Concrete examples of APE codes

• 17.11Z: Paper and cardboard industry; manufacture of paper pulp;
• 25.11Z: Manufacture of metal products, except machinery and equipment; Production of metal structures and parts of structures;
• 41.10A: Construction of buildings; Housing improvement
• 49.10Z: Land transport and transport by pipeline; Intercity rail passenger transport;
• 75.00Z: Veterinarians; Livestock activities;
• 82.11Z: Administrative and other business support activities; Integrated Office Management Services.

What is its use?

The APE Index has many interests. First, it makes it possible to identify the collective agreement on which the company depends. A collective agreement is a document that sets out the specific provisions of labor law applicable in a particular sector.

Additionally, various companies use the APE code. For INSEE, it facilitates the census based on the activities of self-employed workers, associations and institutions.

Finally, this index facilitates the search for companies by sector. This gives the opportunity to generate statistics (especially for INSEE) taking into account only companies operating in the same functional branch.

However, it should be noted that it is not the words of the APE Code that dictate the list of commercial activities. In fact, it is an extract from the Register of Trades and Companies that provides a list of the company’s activities; Because these are fully reported.

How to change your APE code?

In what cases can correction be made?

In theory, the APE index cannot be selected or changed. In fact, it is allocated according to the company’s performance. However, in some specific cases this code may be requested to be changed.

Changing the APE code is allowed in two cases:

• First, if a company’s core activity has changed following registration with the RCS and the information provided by the NAF Code needs to be updated;
• In the second case, if the manager considers that the identifier does not represent the main activity of his company.

Hence APE code is not assigned categorically. This can be modified.

How to change code?

If the APE code does not match the company’s main activities, the INSEE regional office of the department where it is located should be contacted. It is necessary to justify the reason for the change, the new activity was carried out.

If the company has changed its operation since its formation, it should inquire with the CFE, the commercial formality center. It is responsible for carrying out the essential steps for allotment of new APE code.