The European Commission has decided to take France to the EU Court of Justice over its labeling rules for waste sorting, which Brussels says are excessively strict and violate the principles of the free movement of goods within the European single market. About this informsPolitician.
The reason for the lawsuit was the requirements of French legislation regarding the obligatory application of special marks on products — in particular, the “Triman” logo and the “Info-tri” label, which should inform consumers about the proper ways to dispose of goods.
These rules apply to a wide range of products, from packaging and clothing to mobile phones and garden equipment. Introduced as early as 2022, such labeling aims to explain in which container specific items of products should be thrown. At the same time, this very regulation caused tension in the relations between Paris and Brussels.
The European Commission insists that France’s national demands contradict the EU’s policy of harmonizing rules. Last year, the European Union adopted new regulations that require the introduction of uniform packaging labeling — including information on the composition of materials — to make sorting easier for consumers.
However, these pan-European requirements will only come into force in August 2028. Until then, according to Commission representatives, the introduction of national solutions such as the French labeling system is a “disproportionate” measure that “creates barriers to the free movement of goods” in the EU market.
Businesses have long raised concerns about the disparity in labeling requirements across EU member states, which forces companies to adapt packaging to each individual market, increasing costs and making trade more difficult.
The European Commission has already twice – in February 2023 and November 2024 – addressed France with official reservations, calling to resolve this issue. Since the problem was never resolved, Brussels went to court and now the French government will have to defend its position before the EU Court.
