Sell Cosmetics in France: DGCCRF, ANSES and National Requirements

• DGCCRF is the sole cosmetics market surveillance authority in France since 1 January 2024; ANSES handles cosmetovigilance — both operating under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 — France is the EU's second-largest cosmetics market at €14.18 billion in 2024.
• French is mandatory for all consumer-facing label elements (Loi Toubon + Art. R. 5131-4 of the Public Health Code); INCI ingredient names are exempt.
• Products containing nanomaterials require annual registration in the R-Nano register (managed by ANSES), in addition to the CPNP Art. 16(3) notification.

1. The EU framework applies — notify once, sell everywhere

France applies Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 directly — the harmonised rules that govern cosmetic products across the entire European Union. There is no parallel national regime: the safety, composition, and labelling rules are the same as in the rest of the EU.

In practice, selling in France within the EU framework means meeting four common obligations that are not specific to this country:

• A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including France.
• A single EU-established Responsible Person is accountable for the product.
• A single product information file (PIF), which includes the cosmetic product safety report (CPSR).

This guide does not repeat that common framework — it focuses on what is specific to France. For the cross-cutting concepts, see also what the CosIng database is and how to use it.

2. The national competent authority

France restructured its cosmetics authority framework on 1 January 2024. Since that date, two bodies hold distinct functions:

DGCCRF — Market surveillance (sole competent authority for market control) The Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF — Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention) is the sole competent authority for market surveillance of cosmetics in France. Its responsibilities include establishment control, market inspections, regulatory compliance verification, and processing establishment declarations from manufacturers and packagers. Official URL: www.economie.gouv.fr/dgccrf.

ANSES — Cosmetovigilance and risk assessment The Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES — French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety) took over cosmetovigilance and scientific risk assessment functions from 1 January 2024. ANSES manages the R-Nano register and receives reports of serious undesirable effects: cosmetovigilance@anses.fr. URL: www.anses.fr.

3. Labelling language requirements

French is mandatory for all consumer-facing label elements in France. Two legal instruments establish this requirement:

1. Loi Toubon (Law 94-665 of 4 August 1994): all consumer information on French territory must be in French.
2. Art. R. 5131-4 of the French Public Health Code: requires French specifically for nominal content, minimum durability date or PAO, precautions for use, and product function.

Other languages may appear alongside French on the label, but they may not replace it or appear in a larger font size. INCI ingredient names are exempt from this requirement as internationally standardised nomenclature.

For CosIng database ingredient identification using INCI nomenclature, no French translation is required.

4. National particularities

Establishment declaration with DGCCRF

Manufacturers and packagers of cosmetic products operating in France must submit an establishment declaration to DGCCRF before starting activity (opening, modifying, or ceasing operations). Activities already declared with the competent body before 1 January 2024 do not need to be re-declared under the new framework.

R-Nano register (ANSES)

Cosmetic products containing nanomaterials must be registered annually in the R-Nano register, managed by ANSES. This registration is additional to and separate from the CPNP Art. 16(3) notification under Regulation 1223/2009. The R-Nano register collects data on nanomaterial characteristics and quantities used in products.

PFAS ban in cosmetics

France was the first EU member state to enact a national ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetics. This ban entered into force on 1 January 2026 and goes beyond current EU-level requirements. Cosmetic products sold in France must comply with this national restriction.

Unsolicited samples prohibition

French law prohibits the distribution of cosmetic product samples to consumers unless they have been specifically requested — a waste reduction measure without equivalent in most other EU member states.

For other markets in the region, see our guides to Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland.

5. Market context

France is the second-largest cosmetics market in the European Union. According to the Cosmetics Europe Annual Report 2024 (published June 2025), retail sales of cosmetic and personal care products reached €14.18 billion, placing France second in the EU. France is also the world's leading cosmetics exporter, with an industry that includes globally recognised brands and a well-developed manufacturing and formulation ecosystem.

For companies accessing the French market, the January 2024 authority restructuring — consolidating oversight into DGCCRF and ANSES — is the most significant regulatory change in recent years and distinguishes France from most other EU markets.

6. Frequently asked questions

Which authority regulates cosmetics in France? Since 1 January 2024, DGCCRF (Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes) is the sole market surveillance authority for cosmetics in France. ANSES (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire) handles cosmetovigilance and risk assessment.

What language must cosmetic labels be in for France? French is mandatory for all consumer-facing label elements under the Loi Toubon and Art. R. 5131-4 of the French Public Health Code. INCI ingredient names are exempt.

Do I need a separate notification for France? No. A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU including France. However, manufacturers and packagers operating in France must submit an establishment declaration to DGCCRF before starting activity.

Are there national particularities beyond Regulation 1223/2009? Yes. France requires annual registration in the R-Nano register for products containing nanomaterials (additional to the CPNP notification), prohibits distribution of unsolicited samples, and was the first EU country to ban PFAS in cosmetics, effective 1 January 2026.