The paper will discuss the conditions under which proximity food chains contribute to territorial sustainable development. From existing lessons on products with geographical indication protection schemes, it will propose an analytical framework to query the relevance and limitations of labeling short circuits with a view to strengthening their link to strategies of territorial sustainable development. Built on an institutionalist framework for analyzing the issues of valorizing territorial resources, we want to test the assumption that labeling can contribute to create and manage in a sustainable way resources related to proximity food chains. Is this certification required? What should be its shape and methods of implementation to support the efforts of proximity food chains and make them a part of territorial development projects with a view to sustainability?The demonstration is carried out in three stages. In the first part, the diversity of the SSP is categorized into 3 political approaches based on the nature of the territorial immaterial resources mobilized. In the second part, an analytical framework of the management process of common territorial resources is proposed. Building on lessons on products with geographical indication protection schemes, the issues of SSP labeling are discussed. Finally, in the third part, we question paths for structuring collective action to organize proximity food chains without labeling.