The obligation to display prices in France and the European directive of May 28, 2022

Displaying prices is an important subject for consumers, who need to know how much they are going to spend before buying a product or service. In France, price display is mandatory and must comply with the rules in force. These were modified by the European directive of May 28, 2022, which entered into force on January 1, 2023. Here is everything you need to know about the obligation to display prices in France.

The obligation to display prices

In France, the obligation to display prices concerns all merchants, artisans, service providers and professionals who sell products or services to consumers. The prices must be displayed in a visible and legible manner, before the purchase, whether in the window or inside the store. The prices must be indicated in euros, all taxes included, and the VAT rate must be mentioned.

The European directive of May 28, 2022

The European directive of May 28, 2022 modifies the rules for displaying prices in France. It aims to harmonize the rules in all the countries of the European Union and to improve transparency for consumers. Thus, traders must indicate the unit selling price, when the product is sold by weight or by litre. In addition, they must indicate the total price for products sold in batches or on promotion.

The European directive of May 28, 2022 also provides that traders must inform consumers of the availability of spare parts and the cost of replacing them. Merchants must also indicate the price of the eco-contribution, when applicable.

Finally, the European directive of May 28, 2022 reinforces the sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the rules ofprice display. Traders risk a fine of up to 75,000 euros for natural persons and 375,000 euros for legal persons.

In conclusion, the display of prices is a legal obligation in France and must comply with the rules in force. The European directive of May 28, 2022 strengthens these rules and aims to improve transparency for consumers. Traders must therefore comply with these new rules to avoid penalties.