EPR registration, Unique Identifier Numbers, eco-contributions, and compliance requirements for selling on French marketplaces.
AGEC (Loi Anti-Gaspillage pour une Economie Circulaire), or the Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Law, was enacted on February 10, 2020 and is being implemented in phases through 2040. It is France's most ambitious environmental legislation targeting consumer products and represents the most extensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in Europe.
For marketplace sellers, AGEC is significant because it requires registration with eco-organisms for every applicable product category, the display of Unique Identifier Numbers (UINs) on marketplace listings, and the payment of eco-contributions based on the quantities of products sold in France. French marketplaces are legally required to verify compliance and block non-compliant sellers.
Unlike Germany's VerpackG which primarily focuses on packaging, AGEC covers the entire product lifecycle — from design and production through distribution, use, and end-of-life management. It includes bans on single-use plastics, mandatory repairability scores for electronics, prohibitions on destroying unsold goods, and requirements for recycled content in packaging.
AGEC aims to eliminate single-use plastics by 2040, prevent the destruction of unsold goods, and create a circular economy through Extended Producer Responsibility.
Every seller must obtain UINs for each applicable EPR category and display them on marketplace listings. Marketplaces must verify these numbers.
France has the most extensive EPR system in Europe, covering over 20 product streams including packaging, electronics, textiles, toys, sports equipment, furniture, and DIY products.
French marketplaces must verify seller EPR registrations, display UINs, and block sellers who cannot provide valid identifiers. Enforcement has been active since 2023.
Electronics sold in France must display a repairability score (0-10) since January 2021. This is expanding to a "durability index" covering more product attributes.
Since January 2022, destroying unsold non-food consumer products is prohibited. Companies must donate, recycle, or reuse unsold inventory.
| Category | Eco-Organism | UIN Format | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging (emballages) | Citeo | FR[0-9]{6}_01XXXX | All packaging used to deliver products to French consumers, including shipping materials and product packaging. |
| Electrical and electronic equipment (DEEE) | Ecosystem / Ecologic | FR[0-9]{6}_05XXXX | Applies to any product containing electrical or electronic components, including batteries. |
| Furniture (DEA) | Eco-mobilier / Valdelia | FR[0-9]{6}_10XXXX | Furniture and furnishing items including garden furniture and office furniture sold to consumers. |
| Textiles, shoes, and linen (TLC) | Refashion | FR[0-9]{6}_11XXXX | All clothing, footwear, and household linen placed on the French market. |
| Toys | Ecosystem | FR[0-9]{6}_12XXXX | Toys and games sold to consumers in France. Effective since January 2022. |
| Sports and leisure equipment (ASL) | Ecologic | FR[0-9]{6}_13XXXX | Sports goods, fitness equipment, and outdoor leisure products. Effective since January 2022. |
| DIY and garden products | Ecomaison | FR[0-9]{6}_14XXXX | Do-it-yourself products, gardening tools, and related equipment. Effective since January 2022. |
This is not an exhaustive list. France has 20+ EPR categories. UIN format examples are illustrative. Last verified March 2026.
AGEC expanded France's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system significantly. Review your product catalog and determine which EPR categories each product falls under. A single product may fall under multiple categories (e.g., electronic toy = DEEE + Toys). The complete list now covers over 20 product streams.
For each applicable EPR category, you must register with an approved eco-organism (Producer Responsibility Organization). This involves creating an account, declaring your company details, and signing a contract. Each eco-organism handles the collection and recycling for its specific product category.
After registration, you receive a Unique Identifier Number (identifiant unique) for each EPR category. This UIN follows a standardized format (FR + 6 digits + underscore + category code) and must be displayed on your product listings on French marketplaces. Without valid UINs, marketplaces must block your sales.
Add your UINs to your seller profile on each French marketplace where you sell. Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, Fnac, and other French platforms have dedicated fields for EPR identifiers. Marketplaces are legally required to verify UINs and may suspend non-compliant sellers.
Report the quantities of products you have placed on the French market to each eco-organism, typically on an annual basis (some require quarterly or semi-annual reporting). Based on these declarations, you pay eco-contributions that fund the collection, sorting, and recycling of products at end of life.
AGEC requires certain products to display environmental qualities and characteristics. This includes repairability scores for electronics (indice de reparabilite), recycled content information, and the presence of hazardous substances. These requirements are being phased in gradually through 2026.
AGEC is being implemented in phases, with new product categories and obligations being added regularly. The law also introduces bans on destroying unsold non-food products, mandatory recycled content targets, and labeling requirements that are progressively tightened. Monitor updates from ADEME (the French ecological transition agency).
Managing EPR registrations across multiple product categories and French marketplaces is complex. Marqetir centralizes the process.
Store all your UINs centrally and push them to Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, and other French marketplaces with the correct category mapping.
Marqetir flags which EPR categories likely apply to each product in your catalog, helping you identify missing registrations.
When you update compliance data, changes propagate to all French marketplace accounts automatically.
Stay informed about new AGEC phases and requirement changes that affect your product categories.
Manage French AGEC alongside German VerpackG, EU-wide GPSR, and other regulations from a single dashboard.
Before publishing listings, Marqetir verifies that all required compliance fields are populated.
Manage AGEC compliance, product listings, and inventory across Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, and more. Free 7-day trial.
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