GPSR Compliance in France
France is the EU's second-largest ecommerce market. The DGCCRF actively enforces product safety law and can order store closures for non-compliance. Here's what you need to know.
€30,000
Max fine per violation
Store closure
Additional penalty
#2 market
EU ecommerce rank
42 million
Online shoppers FR
The DGCCRF: France's enforcement authority
The Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) is France's combined competition, consumer protection, and market surveillance authority. It has strong enforcement powers under both GPSR and French consumer law.
Financial penalties
Up to €30,000 per violation under GPSR, plus French consumer law penalties for other infringements.
Store closure
Temporary or permanent closure orders for repeated or serious violations. This can include blocking access to French consumers.
Product recall
Mandatory recall orders for dangerous products, with publication on the RappelConso recall portal.
Border interception
Coordination with French customs to intercept non-compliant products at import.
Store closure is a real risk, not just a fine
Unlike Germany where enforcement is primarily financial, the DGCCRF can order online stores to be made inaccessible to French consumers. For cross-border sellers targeting France, this is a significant operational risk worth taking seriously.
France-specific compliance requirements
These requirements combine GPSR obligations with French-specific consumer law requirements.
French-language product information
CRITICALSafety warnings, usage instructions, and manufacturer contact details must be in French. France's Loi Toubon (Law 94-665) additionally requires commercial communications to consumers to be in French — this reinforces the GPSR language requirement.
Manufacturer or responsible person details
CRITICALName, business address, and electronic contact of the manufacturer (or EU responsible person) must appear on product pages. For non-EU sellers, a designated EU responsible person is required.
Product traceability reference
CRITICALA model number, batch number (numéro de lot), or serial number must be displayed on each product page for GPSR traceability purposes.
Mentions légales (legal notice)
CRITICALFrench law (Loi pour la Confiance dans l'Économie Numérique, LCEN) requires an easily accessible "Mentions légales" page listing company name, address, SIRET/SIREN number (for French companies), and hosting provider information.
DGCCRF product safety reporting
IMPORTANTConsumers must be able to report product safety concerns. The DGCCRF recommends a clear contact channel labelled for product safety complaints, accessible from product pages.
Right of withdrawal (14 days)
IMPORTANTFrench consumer law requires a clear 14-day withdrawal right notice and a model withdrawal form. This applies to all distance selling to French consumers and must be confirmed in the order process and order emails.
Check your compliance for the French market
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Frequently asked questions
Who enforces GPSR in France?
GPSR in France is enforced by the DGCCRF — the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes. They handle product safety, consumer protection, and market surveillance.
What are GPSR fines in France?
Fines can reach €30,000 per violation. More significantly, the DGCCRF can order temporary or permanent closure of a store serving French consumers — a power that goes beyond financial penalties.
Does GPSR require French-language product information?
Yes. GPSR requires information in the consumer's language. France also has the Loi Toubon, which specifically reinforces the use of French in commercial communications with French consumers.
What is the RappelConso portal?
RappelConso is France's official product recall database, managed by the DGCCRF. If a product is recalled, it must be published there. Consumers and enforcement officers check this database. GPSR requires notification to national safety portals for product recalls.