Case law

  • Case Details
    • National ID: #09/00010
    • Member State: France
    • Common Name:link
    • Decision type: Court decision in appeal
    • Decision date: 20/10/2009
    • Court: Court of appeals (Montpellier) Correctional Chamber # 3
    • Subject:
    • Plaintiff: French State
    • Defendant: SARL GRAND SUD AVICOLE, SARL GRAND SUD AVICOLE and SARL NATURE"UF
    • Keywords: advertisement, false information, labelling, misleading advertising, misleading statements
  • Directive Articles
    Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, Chapter 2, Article 5, 4. Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, Chapter 2, Section 1, Article 6, 1.
  • Headnote
    The offense of false or misleading advertisements (as referred to in articles L. 121-1-1, L. 121-1 and L. 121-5 of the French Consumer Code) is present when there has been a repeated number of false allegations that could not be considered as mere errors or negligence, but instead as a deliberate intent to mislead the consumer.
  • Facts
    A company producing eggs from hens raised in battery was inspected by the French consumer protection authority, which found several violations, including allegations of misleading advertising, particularly in respect of product traceability and quality (claiming the "Label Rouge" quality label).
  • Legal issue
    The court recalled that the repetition of fraudulent practices may in no event be considered as mere error or negligence, but instead amounts to deliberate intent to fraudulently deceive consumers by claiming the "Label Rouge" quality label whereas the eggs in question did not qualify for this label.

    Articles L. 115-24, L. 121-1 and L. 121-1-1 of the French Consumer Code were therefore found to be violated. These articles are intended to allow a potential consumer to decide on the quality of a product offered for sale.
  • Decision

    Do repeated false product claims amount to the offense of false or misleading advertisements? 

    Full text: Full text

  • Related Cases

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  • Result
    The claim was denied.