G/TBT/N/FRA/153  
19 November 2013  
(13-6365)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: French  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Notifying Member: FRANCE 
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  
Ministère de l'écologie, du développement durable, des transports et du logement 
Direction générale de la prévention des risques Service de la prévention des nuisances et de la qualité de l'environnement Bureau de la qualité écologique des produits 
Grande Arche - paroi nord - 92055 La Défense Cedex 
E-mail: caroline.henry@developpement-durable.gouv.fr ; agathe.flottes@developpement-
durable.gouv.fr  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers and e-mail and 
website addresses, if availa ble) of agency or author ity designated to handle 
comments regarding the notification shall be indicated if di fferent from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2. 10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN wher e applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition where applicable): The 
notified Decree refers to all recyclable produc ts subject to a system of extended producer 
responsibility (household packaging, graphic papers, textiles, electric and electronic 
equipment, batteries, accumulators, furnishings, etc.) which are associated with waste sorting instructions. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Décret relatif à 
la signalétique commune informant le consommateur des produits recyclables soumis à 
un dispositif de responsabilité élargie du producteur qui relèvent d'une consigne de tri  
(Decree on a common set of symbols informing the consumer about recyclable products subject to a system of extended producer responsibility associated with waste sorting 
instructions) (7 pages, in French)  
6. Description of content: The notified Decree provides for the implementation of a 
common set of symbols comprising at least one form of mark, which informs consumers 
about recyclable products subject to a syst em of extended producer responsibility 
associated with waste sorting instructions. This provision plays an active role in 
simplifying waste sorting activity within the broader framework of reducing the quantity 
of waste destined for disposal and increasing recycling, in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Article 46 of Planning Law No. 2009-967 of 3 of August 2009 on the 
implementation of the Grenelle Environment Forum. G/TBT/N/FRA/153 
- 2 - 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: In late 2007, Undertaking 255 of the Grenelle Environment Forum 
established the collegial intention to decide on a common set of symbols for recyclable 
products, with a view to significantly simplifying waste sorting activity by citizens. 
In the light of this Undertaking resulting from round table discussions of the Grenelle 
Environment Forum, Article 46 of Planning Law No. 2009-967 of 3 August 2009 on the 
implementation of the Grenelle Environment Forum stipulates that the "common set of 
symbols and waste sorting instructions shall be progressively harmonized".  
This guideline was elaborated on in Article 199 of Law No. 2010-788 of 12 July 2010 on 
the national commitment to the environment, codified in Article L. 541-10-5 of the Environmental Code, which stipulates that "by no later than 1 January 2012, all 
recyclable products subject to a system of ex tended producer responsibility must have a 
common set of symbols informing consumers that the product is associated with waste sorting instructions".  
This provision shall significantly and durably simplify waste sorting activity by citizens, 
whatever the waste flow involved. It therefor e actively contributes to improving separate 
waste collection performance (quantity and quality) and thus forms part of a broader 
framework for reducing the quantity of wa ste destined for disposal and increasing 
recycling, in accordance with the guidelines laid down in Article 46 of Planning Law No. 2009-967 of 3 August 2009 on the implementa tion of the Grenelle Environment Forum. 
8. Relevant documents:  
 Article 46 of Planning Law No. 2009-967 of 3 August 2009 on the implementation 
of the Grenelle Environment Forum. 
 Article 199 of Law No. 2010-788 of 12 of July 2010 on the national commitment to 
the environment. 
 Article L.541-10-5 of the Environmental Code.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  
Proposed date of entry into force:    January 2012 
The law provides that the date of 
entry into force shall be 1 January 2012 at the latest. The text will enter 
into force on the date of publication 
in the Official Journal. However, one article of the present draft Decree provides that non-compliant products 
shall be marketable until stocks run 
out, provided that they are placed on the market before 1 January 2015. 
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from the date of notification. 
11. Text available from: National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and e-mail and website addresse s, if available, of other body:  
CINORTECH 
AFNOR 11 avenue Francis de Pressensé 93571 SAINT-DENIS - LA PLAINE Cedex 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/TBT/FRA/13_4591_00_e.pdf