France is Western Europe's second-largest supplement market and one of the most notification-active. Before you can sell a food supplement in France, you must notify DGCCRF (the French consumer affairs authority). The process is manageable but must be completed before first sale — selling without notification exposes you to product withdrawal and fines.
All food supplements placed on the French market for the first time must be notified to DGCCRF via the Téléicare online portal. The notification is free and relatively straightforward for products using standard EU-permitted ingredients. You need: company details, product name, complete formulation, label artwork, and the name of a responsible EU operator. DGCCRF reviews the notification and may request modifications — notification does not constitute automatic approval.
France has specific national rules for botanicals beyond the EU harmonised vitamins/minerals list. ANSES (French food safety agency) publishes guidance on botanicals including a list of plants with restrictions. Several botanicals freely used in the US and UK face dose limits or restrictions in France.
Labels must be in French. Required elements: product name, net quantity, ingredient list in descending order by weight, allergen declarations, best before date, storage conditions, recommended daily dose with the statement 'Ne pas dépasser la dose journalière recommandée' (Do not exceed the recommended daily dose), and 'Les compléments alimentaires ne doivent pas se substituer à une alimentation variée et équilibrée et à un mode de vie sain' (Supplements must not be a substitute for a varied and balanced diet).
France strictly enforces EU health claims regulation. DGCCRF conducts regular market surveillance and issues fines for unauthorised claims. Notably, France has a tradition of treating 'tonus', 'vitalité', and similar French-language marketing terms more broadly than literal English translations — check approved claim wording carefully in French context.
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