Section 2: Negotiating and formalising the commercial relationship

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Article D441-1

French Commercial codeIn force

Updated 5 Nov 2023

The mass market products mentioned in I of Article L. 441-4 and the references to which they correspond in Annex II of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1749/1999 of 23 July 1999 amending Regulation (EC) No 2214/96 concerning the sub-indices of the harmonised indices of consumer prices are as follows:


List of mass-market consumer products referred to in I of article L. 441-4

Reference for products in

Annex II to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1749/1999 of 23 July 1999 amending

Regulation (EC) No 2214/96 concerning the sub-indices

of the harmonised indices of consumer prices


Products

Division 01

Food products and non-alcoholic beverages

Group 02.1

Alcoholic beverages

Class 05.5.1/2 (seventh indent)

Electric batteries for all purposes

Class 05.6.1 (first indent)

Washing and maintenance products such as soaps, washing powders, liquid detergents, scouring powders, detergents, bleaches, fabric softeners, window cleaners, drain cleaners, disinfectants and distilled water, excluding waxes, polishes, dyes, insecticides and fungicides.

Class 05.6.1 (second indent)

Articles for cleaning purposes such as brooms, scrubbing brushes, dustpans and floor sweepings, feather dusters, rags, dishcloths, floor cloths, household sponges, scouring pads, steel wool and chamois leather.

Class 05.6.1 (third indent)

Paper products such as filters, tablecloths and napkins, kitchen paper, hoover bags and cardboard tableware, including aluminium foil and plastic bin liners.

Class 06.1.2/3

Adhesive and non-adhesive dressings

Class 09.3.4/5

Feedingstuffs for pets

Class 12.1.2/3 (third indent)

Non-electrical appliances such as razors and razor blades, nail files, toothbrushes, excluding hair clippers and their blades, scissors, combs, shaving brushes, hairbrushes, nail brushes, hairpins, curlers, bathroom scales, baby scales.

Class 12.1.2/3 (fourth indent)

Personal hygiene articles such as toilet soap, medicinal soap, toilet oil and milk, soap, shaving cream and foam, toothpaste.

Class 12.1.2/3 (fifth indent)

Beauty products, perfumes and deodorants such as lipsticks, nail varnishes, make-up and make-up remover products (including compacts, brushes and puffs), hair lacquers and lotions, pre-shave and after-shave products, sun protection products, depilatories, perfumes and toilet waters, body deodorants, bath products.

Class 12.1.2/3 (sixth indent)

Other goods such as toilet paper, paper handkerchiefs, paper serviettes, tampons, cotton wool, cotton buds, disposable baby nappies, toilet sponges.
Mariela Petrova

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Common Questions

Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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