Marking of origin (“Made in”)
Indication of the country of origin affixed to a product or its packaging, governed by the rules of non-preferential origin.
Marking of origin (“Made in”)
The marking of origin (or “Made in” mention) is the indication of the country of origin affixed to a product or its packaging, informing the consumer of the place of manufacture.
Regulations in the EU
Unlike in the United States, origin marking is not generally mandatory in the EU, except for certain specific product categories (food products, textiles, cosmetics, agricultural products).
Determination of country of origin
The “Made in” marking follows the rules of non-preferential origin: the country of origin is the one where the last substantial transformation took place. For example, a garment cut and sewn in Bangladesh from Chinese fabric will be “Made in Bangladesh”.
Misleading mentions
The use of false or misleading origin marking constitutes an offense. Affixing “Made in France” to a product that does not meet the French origin criteria exposes you to sanctions for misleading commercial practices.
“Made in France”
To claim “Made in France”, the product must have undergone its last substantial transformation in France, or French production costs must represent a significant part of the cost price. The DGCCRF controls the use of this term.