France · FR
Online shop terms and conditions for France (CGV) — what you need (2026)
If you sell to consumers in France, French consumer law applies — not the law of your home country. Your existing terms are not enough: you need a document aligned with the Code de la consommation, with a 14-day right of withdrawal, a mandatory consumer mediator, and — under the Toubon law — drafted in French. Below we explain which law applies, what your terms for the French market must contain, and the mistakes foreign sellers commonly make.
Which law applies when selling to France?
In cross-border sales to consumers, mandatory consumer protection follows the consumer’s country of residence. If you sell to customers in France, French consumer law therefore applies — regardless of where your shop is established. Terms drafted under your home law are not designed for this.
The decisive French rules
- Code de la consommation — pre-contractual information duties (art. L221-5) and the 14-day right of withdrawal (art. L221-18).
- Legal guarantees — guarantee of conformity for 2 years (art. L217-3 et seq.) and the hidden-defects warranty (art. 1641 Civil Code).
- Consumer mediator — art. L612-1 requires naming an accredited mediator in the terms.
- LCEN (art. 6) — mandatory “mentions légales” (publisher identification).
- Toubon law (1994) — documents for consumers in France must be in French.
Why home-country terms are not enough
Home-country terms govern withdrawal, warranties and data protection under your own law. French consumers will not find the correct mandatory information in them, and clauses contrary to French consumer law are unenforceable. Consumers must also be able to understand their rights in a language accessible to them — in practice, a document in French.
Oversight and risk: CNIL and DGCCRF
Data protection is supervised by the CNIL (fines up to EUR 20 million or 4% of turnover), while terms, prices and commercial practices fall to the DGCCRF (administrative fines up to EUR 75,000 per company). Missing or unenforceable mandatory mentions are a typical trigger for inspections.
How to prepare compliant terms for France
Rather than translating your existing terms, generate a document tailored to the French market — with the right clauses (Code de la consommation, legal guarantees, mediator, RGPD), in French and ready to publish in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which law applies when selling to France?
For mandatory consumer-protection rules, the law of the consumer's country of residence applies — so French law for customers in France (Code de la consommation, RGPD, CNIL guidelines).
Are my home-country terms enough for France?
No. Terms drafted under your home law do not cover French requirements (consumer mediator, mentions légales, the R221-1 form) and are often unenforceable against French consumers.
Do the terms have to be in French?
Yes. The Toubon law of 1994 requires a French version of all documents intended for consumers in France. A mere translation is not enough — the French version must be the binding one.
Do I have to name a consumer mediator?
Yes. Art. L612-1 of the Code de la consommation requires an agreement with an accredited consumer mediator and its mention in the terms; a link to the ODR platform is also mandatory.
What is the DGCCRF?
The French competition and consumer authority. It checks terms, prices and commercial practices and can impose administrative fines of up to EUR 75,000 per company for missing terms or unfair practices.