France Passes the World's First Environmental Law on Carbon Environmental Information

On July 12, 2010, the French National Assembly passed an important environmental law, Law No. 2010-788 , and announced it in the French official gazette on July 13, 2010. The new law passed several measures on consumer products and environmental issues, and is also the world’s first environmental law on carbon environmental information. Its main content is:

1. Environmental Labelling (Article 228 of the Law, Amendment to the French Consumer Code)

From July 2011 onwards, experiments will be conducted for at least one year, gradually informing consumers of the following relevant information:

1) The content of the "carbon equivalent" of the product and its packaging;
2) Consumption of natural resources, or environmental impact during the product life cycle.

More details on this experiment will be announced in the last quarter of 2010.

2. Waste Collection (Articles 199 and 200 of the Law)

No later than January 1, 2011, the household packaging will adopt a harmonized classification system, which will be applied no later than January 1, 2015 after consultation with the National Wastes Council's collection and waste disposal coordination committee;

No later than January 1, 2012, reusable products that belong to the extended manufacturer's liability equipment need to be affixed with a generic label that informs the consumer that the product should be classified;

No later than July 1, 2011, any retail outlet that provides self-service food and consumer goods with a sales volume of more than 2,500 square meters should establish a checkpoint to inspect the waste packaging of the products purchased at this retail outlet.

From January 1, 2011, any person or entity that manufactures, imports, or introduces furniture in the market should provide actions to support the collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of such products at the end of their life cycle, which can be managed by ecologically approved agencies. The form of funding. Starting from July 1, 2011, those responsible for the market that do not fulfill this obligation will pay general taxes on pollution caused.

3. Indoor air quality (Article 180 of the law, revised French Consumer Code)

From January 1, 2012, building products, furniture, walls and floor coverings, paints, and varnishes that release certain volatile contaminants require mandatory labelling. Other laws and regulations will stipulate that the mandatory labeling covers Product Range.

4. School textbooks (Article 206 of the Law)

From January 1, 2013, any printed or reprinted textbook must use recycled paper or come from sustainably managed forests.