France is a member of the European Union and the world trade organization. For this reason, France enjoys normal trading relations with the United States.
The documents required are as follows: Certificates of Origin; Certificate of Origin Form A; Commercial Invoices; dangerous goods certification may apply; Airway Bill or Bill of Lading; and Import permits.
Agricultural Documentation includes Phytosanitary Certificates and Sanitary Certificates. Countries require that shipments be accompanied by a certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. This applies in spite of whether the product is for human consumption, for pharmaceutical use, or strictly for non-human use (e.g., veterinary biologicals, animal feeds, fertilizers, research).
Import Duties
Customs duties are, generally, an ad valorem rate (a percentage), which is applied to the transaction value (EUR Euro) or CIF of the imported goods based on the cost of the goods, insurance, and freight charges. There are also excise duties.
In addition to duties, goods imported into France are also subject to a value-added Tax (VAT) which is generally charged at one of two rates: (1) The standard rate of 19.6% applicable to most manufactured goods; (2) The reduced rate of 5.5%, applicable mostly to agricultural products and foodstuffs, original artworks and certain medicines.
There is a value added tax of 19.6 % for most products. Some products, such as basic necessities and foodstuffs, qualify for a reduced rate of 2.1-5.5%. The tax is applied on CIF + duty.
The following Labeling Requirements generally required for all categories of products: (1) Cite country of origin. (2) Labels must be written in French. The writing must be clear and non-promotional. (3) State what the product is. For example: "olive oil." (4) Any name symbols and marks relating to the product must be found on the exterior of the packaging, the product label, and the bottle-top or lid, as the case applies. The manufacturer can only use registered brand names and trademarks. (5) All ingredients or materials constituting the product must be listed. (6) Usage instruction must explain how the product is to be used. (7) Required dates include when the product was made, the consumption limit for perishable items, and recommended "use by" date for pre-packaged and frozen food products. (8) Qualifiers: For example: "made by hand" on leather goods. (9) Name/Address of Manufacturer or Vendor. (10) Labels must inform the consumer of any particular product limitations or sales conditions. (11) The price (including all taxes) must be marked on all pre-packaged goods, unless they are sold by mail order.
Prohibited Items
The TARIC is designed to show various rules applying to specific products being imported into the customs territory of the EU or, in some cases, when exported from it. To determine if a product is prohibited or subject to restriction, check the TARIC for that product for the following codes: CITES Convention on, International Trade of Endangered Species, PROHI Import Suspension, RSTR Import Restriction.
For information on how to access the TARIC, see the Import Requirements and Documentation Section above. | 
