Selling in France under GPSR: French language, UIN numbers and Triman
France applies the GPSR like every other EU country. Three French rules decide what a cross-border seller has to show on top of it: the language law, a registration number for each EPR scheme your products fall under, and sorting labels.
French in product information
The Toubon law (Law No 94-665 of 4 August 1994, Article 2) makes French mandatory for the designation, offer, presentation, instructions for use, and the scope and conditions of the warranty of goods sold in France, and for advertising. Together with GPSR Article 9(7), which leaves the language of safety information to each member state, this means French warnings, instructions and product descriptions for France — on the product or packaging and in your listings.
Far more EPR schemes than packaging
France runs separate extended producer responsibility schemes (filières REP) for many kinds of product. The government’s sorting-label programme alone covers packaging, medicines, furniture, clothing, toys and solar panels, each with its own scheme. For each one you join an approved compliance organisation (éco-organisme) or run an approved individual system, so a seller of toys or clothing can have several schemes on top of packaging.
The unique identification number (UIN)
When you join a scheme, ADEME issues a unique identification number that proves you are registered in its SYDEREP system — one UIN per scheme. In a collective scheme, your compliance organisation registers you and sends you the UIN; you cannot register yourself as an individual.
Since 1 January 2022:
- Put your UINs in your general terms and conditions of sale, or in another contractual document you give the buyer if you have none.
- If you run a website, show your UIN there as well.
- Give your UIN to any buyer who asks for it.
Marketplaces. For goods sold on behalf of third parties, a marketplace is treated as the producer unless it holds proof that the seller already has a UIN for the scheme. That is why marketplaces selling to France ask for your numbers. ADEME publishes the list of registered producers and their UINs as open data, so they can be checked.
If a UIN is withdrawn and the producer stops meeting its obligations, ADEME’s page lists a fine of up to €30,000 and a daily penalty of up to €20,000.
Triman and Info-tri
Since summer 2022, France has been rolling out Info-tri: the Triman logo plus instructions on how to sort each part of the product or packaging. It becomes mandatory step by step, with a separate timetable for each EPR scheme. Check your compliance organisation’s guide for your product type before you print packaging for France. The EU-wide harmonised packaging label under the PPWR comes later — from 12 August 2028 at the earliest.
Who checks
The DGCCRF (directorate-general for competition policy, consumer affairs and fraud control) checks the conformity and safety of non-food products, including products sold through online marketplaces.
Checklist for France
- An EU responsible person named on the product and in the listing — compare published provider prices.
- French descriptions, instructions, warnings and warranty terms.
- A compliance organisation and a UIN for every EPR scheme your products fall under; the UINs in your terms of sale and given to each marketplace.
- Info-tri and Triman where your scheme already requires them.
- French warnings on the label: use the GPSR label generator.
Run the compliance checker for the full list for your products. Background: packaging EPR.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Triman logo enough on its own?
Usually not. The Info-tri label combines the Triman logo with instructions on how to sort each part, and each EPR scheme has its own timetable. Your compliance organisation’s guide tells you what applies to your product.
Do I need a UIN if I only sell on marketplaces?
For goods sold on behalf of third parties, ADEME treats the marketplace as the producer unless it holds proof that the seller has a UIN for the scheme. That is why marketplaces selling to France ask for it. You get one UIN per scheme.
Sources
- Law No 94-665 of 4 August 1994 on the use of the French language (Légifrance)
- ADEME: Unique Identification Numbers (UIN) in EPR schemes
- ADEME open data: producers registered in SYDEREP with their UIN
- Ministry for the Ecological Transition: Info-tri press kit
- DGCCRF: missions
- Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR), Article 9(7)
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR), Article 12
ohdock provides software tools and general information, not legal advice. Check the official texts, or ask a qualified adviser, for your situation.