Caught by the patrol. Two European large-distribution purchasing centers that did not respect French legislation will be subject to “pre-fines” of several “tens of millions of euros”, which they will have two months to challenge, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire announced on Wednesday.
Distributors have established purchasing and service centers in Europe in recent years to negotiate with their largest, often multinational, industrial suppliers. Some are accused of not respecting French law.
“European purchasing centers must respect national laws,” said Bruno Le Maire on Wednesday, during the press conference organized by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. However, “two power plants did not comply with the provisions of the law” and “pre-fines” “in amounts of tens of millions of euros” were imposed on February 19.
“Deception”
These two centers have two months to present their contradictory arguments, after which the sanctions will be “definitive.” In addition, Bruno Le Maire announced that 1,000 establishments were checked on the French origin of the products sold, and 372 did not comply, “not respecting the Origine France label” or making “deceptions about this merchandise.”
In a message sent to AFP on Wednesday afternoon, the Origine France Garantie association clarified that “the minister’s comments do not refer to products that benefit from the Origine France Garantie certification, but to agricultural products, in particular fruits and vegetables, which have an inappropriate ‘French origin'” mark.
In a tweet on Wednesday afternoon, Bruno Le Maire indicated that the controls were carried out “on the French origin of the products”, without referring to the “Guarantee of Origin France” label. The first reports should be published “in the coming days,” he said.
1,400 controls carried out
“Not respecting” the rules relating to exhibitions of French origin is considered “a deceptive commercial practice punishable by a criminal penalty” of up to 10% of the turnover, the minister recalled this morning. He specified that 150 agents from the Anti-Fraud Directorate (DGCCRF), Bercy department, were mobilized to control large manufacturers and supermarkets.
On this date, 1,400 checks were carried out on the 200 largest manufacturers and the 5 large distributors, indicated Bruno Le Maire, referring to “150 cases of non-compliance, in particular due to delays in the signing of contracts.” Penalties have been reported.
Source: BFM TV
