Reaching the Consumers | Distributing a Product | Market Access Procedures | Organizing Goods Transport | Identifying a Supplier

Reaching the Consumers

Marketing Opportunities

Consumer Behavior: Traditionally, price has been an essential element in the French consumer's buying process. However, quality is becoming more and more important for the French consumer who is now tending to favor products which have a quality label or mark. The quality of after-sales service is a decisive element in choosing where to buy.

Consumer Profile and Purchasing Power: France is a country where buying most often equals pleasure. France is famous for its high consumption of leisure and culture products and gifts. The French consumer is impulsive and makes frequent purchases. As regards foodstuffs, the French are more likely to buy domestic products.

Consumers Associations: The French Consumer Institute
UFC Que Choisir , The Federal Union of Consumers
ECC , The European Consumer Centre in France
The French Consumer Association

Main Advertising Agencies: Publicis Groupe SA
Havas
Saatchi & Saatchi

Distributing a Product

Evolution of the Sector: The wholesale trade represents 172,000 companies and a 53.6 billion EUR turnover. The retail trade represents 350,000 companies and a 360 billion EUR turnover. The setting up of hypermarkets is regulated by the Royer Law of 1973 and the Raffarin Law of 1996 ; they aim to protect local shops, rapidly losing grounds to hypermarkets. France's retail distribution network is diverse and sophisticated.
Market Shares: Mass marketing dominates the retail trade sector in France with, in 2009, 5,437 supermarkets and 4,531 hard discount stores. The Carrefour group is in the leading position with a turnover of 77.9 billion euros. Then comes Auchan with 35.3 billion, Intermarché with 31.5 billion, Leclerc and Casino (2006 ranking).
Organizations in the Retail Sector: The Federation of Trade and Distribution Companies (FCD)
The associated trade stores

Market Access Procedures

International Conventions: Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of OECD
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Wassenaar arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Party of the International Coffee Agreement 2001
Main International Economic Cooperation: Member of the European Union
Member of the European Economic Area which has guaranteed, since 1 January 1993, the free movement of most goods between European countries.
Multilateral agreements and bilateral agreements with many countries.
Non Tariff Barriers: At the European level, agricultural products are protected within the Common Agricultural Policy and textile products from China, Belarus, North Korea, Montenegro, Kosovo and Uzbekistan are subject to particular formalities and import licenses or control procedures (export document, monitoring document).
At the national level, trade in plants and seeds, aircraft, and others has to be declared; they have to be certified respectively by the GNIS(the national interprofessional organization for seeds and plants), the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports: Operations carried out within the EEA are free of duty.
The Common Customs Tariff of the European Union applies to goods originating outside Europe. Generally the duty is relatively low, especially for industrial products (4.2% on average).

Customs Classification

The Combined Nomenclature of the European Community (EC) integrates the HS nomenclature and supplements it with its own subheadings with an eight digit code number and its own Legal Notes created for Community purposes.

Import Procedures

For goods of a value under 1,000 kg or 1,000 EUR, a verbal declaration at customs, and presenting the invoice, is sufficient.
For higher values, you must declare it at the Customs Office:
1) a brief declaration (air or maritime manifest) to conclude the collection of the goods.
2) a common law declaration (SAD, single administrative document), as well as the accompanying documents to allow their clearance.
The SAD form can be obtained from Chambers of Commerce or an approved printer.

An online clearance platform by automated transmission (DELTA) is accessible from the portal PRODOUANE (in French).

In the case of deliveries and purchases within the European Community, the declaration of exchange of goods (DEB) or Intrastat declaration must be sent to the Customs Service.

As part of the "SAFE" standards advocated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union has set up a new system of import controls, the "Import Control System" (ICS), which aims to secure the flow of goods at the time of their entry into the customs territory of the EU. This control system, part of the Community Program eCustomer, has been in effect since January 1, 2011. Since then, operators are required to pass an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to the customs of the country of entry, prior to the introduction of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.

The Modernized Customs Code entered into force in 2008 simplifies procedures, for example computerizing and centralizing transactions.

Importing Samples

For the import, export and re-export of commercial samples the ATA (Temporary Admission) book can be used. It must be written on the product that it is a free sample and that it may not be sold.

For Further Information: French Customs website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry

Learn more about Traders, Agents in France on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.

Organizing Goods Transport

Main Useful Means of Transport: Goods transport (national and international) in France is dominated by road transport, with more than 2 billion goods transported every year. Road transport of goods is above all practical. Plans for putting trucks on trains and reviving the use of waterways could advance the development of a form of transport other than road, but their potential remains limited.

International goods transport for its part is dominated by sea transport. This means of transport is economical and France is easy to access because of its extensive sea coast. Five of the fifteen biggest European ports are located in France; they are linked with each other and serve the other large European centers of consumption in the North and in the South thanks to an extensive networking of shipping lines. The ports represent 85% in volume and 66% in value of French foreign trade.
Ports: Marseille
Le Havre
Dunkerque
Nantes Saint Nazaire
Calais
Rouen
Airports: Paris - Airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle
Sea Transport Organizations: The Ministry of equipment, transport and housing
Air Transport Organizations: The Ministry of equipment, transport and housing
Road Transport Organizations: The Ministry of equipment, transport and housing
Rail Transport Organizations: The Ministry of equipment, transport and housing

Identifying a Supplier

Type of Production: In France, industry represents 20% of the GDP and 17% of employment.
The pharmaceutical, aeronautical, and new information and communication technology (NICT) industries have an important place on the French industrial scene.

Business Directories

Multi-sector Directories: Agrocontact - Food industry companies
FEL PARTENARIAT - List of affiliated importers, wholesalers, exporters of fruits and vegetables.
Franchise Direct France - Browse franchises listed by industry. Choose the best franchise opportunity from these industry categories.
Hotels de France - Hotel booking in France.
Importers Members of French Union for Fruit and Vegetables Importers - French importers of fruits and vegetables.
Members of the UNCGFL - The UNCGFL is the Federation of Fruits and Vegetables Wholesalers.
Meuble Deco Directory - French importers of furniture.
Spanish Professionals for Olive Oil - "Website ""Huile d'olive d'Espagne"", provided by Asoliva and the Economic and Trade Office of the Spanish Embassy in France."
ABC France - B2B information in France.
All.biz - France - Directory of companies in France.
Firma France - Official French exporters B2B directory.
FirmaFrance - Firmafrance.com is the official French exporters B2B directory, powered by Ubifrance and officially endorsed by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry of France. Dedicated to foreign companies seeking reliable suppliers and partners in France.
France-Entreprises.fr - Directory of French companies.
French Advisor for Foreign Trade - Members of the French Council of Foreign Trade Counselors.
Indexa - Online directory of professionals and companies.
MacRAE'S Blue Book - Business directory with detailed information of companies in Europe.
Sireh.com - Directory of companies in France.
Société.com - Find a company in France.
The professional pages - B2B directory.
The Yellow Pages - Find a business in France.

Manufacturers Associations of the Main Industries: 120 professional associations listed for France.

Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad: The French confederation of trade between companies
Portal for Chambers of Commerce and Industry
The Assembly of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Enterprises Federation: The government information website for SMEs
Net PME, the information website for SMEs
The Directorate-General "Enterprise and Industry" of the European Commission
The CGPME (General Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises)
The MEDEF (Movement of French Enterprises)

Learn more about Service Providers in France on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.

Any Comments About This Content? Report It to Us.

Learn more about Sales in France on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.

France: Selling and Buying