An online clothing sales site must display legal notices in accordance with French legislation. Since May 2024, the framework has changed: the SREN law has replaced the old article 6 III of the LCEN with new articles that restructure the required information. Many online fashion boutiques are still operating with outdated pages, written according to the old text.
SREN Law and Legal Notices: What Has Changed for a Textile E-commerce Site
Before May 2024, the obligations for identifying the publisher of a site were based on article 6 III of the LCEN law of June 21, 2004. Law No. 2024-449, known as the SREN law (security and regulation of the digital space), created the articles 1-1 and 1-2 of the LCEN, which replace this foundation.
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These new articles specify in a structured manner the blocks of information that must be included. The publisher’s phone number, for example, is now explicitly mandatory. The identity of the hosting provider must include its address and phone number, not just its company name.
For a clothing store, this means one concrete thing: copying and pasting an old legal notice template found on an outdated generator exposes you to penalties. A good example of a page updated according to this new framework can be seen in the legal notices of vetementglamour.fr, which incorporate the blocks required by the SREN law.
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Mandatory Content of Legal Notices for an Online Clothing Store
Do you sell dresses, t-shirts, or fashion accessories on your own site? Here is the information that your legal notice page must contain, depending on your status.
Common Information for All Statuses
- The email address and the phone number of the site’s publisher to allow for direct and quick contact.
- The complete identity of the site’s host: name or company name, postal address, and phone number. A simple logo or a link to the host’s site is not sufficient.
- The name of the publication director, or the editorial manager if the site publishes editorial content (a fashion blog, for example).
- The VAT identification number, as long as the company is subject to it.
Individual or Legal Entity: The Differences
An individual entrepreneur (including micro-entrepreneurs) must indicate their first and last name, accompanied by the mention “individual entrepreneur” or the initials “EI”, as well as their home address.
A company (SAS, SARL, EURL) must display its company name, legal form, amount of share capital, and address of the registered office. The registration number with the RCS is also required.
The content varies according to the status, but the obligation to display is the same. No exemption exists for small boutiques or low-traffic sites.
Specific Obligations for Selling Clothing Online
An e-commerce fashion site is not limited to the classic legal notices. Consumer law adds additional layers, often unknown to brand creators launching their first store.
Online Withdrawal Since June 2026
Since June 19, 2026, sales sites subject to the Consumer Code must offer a withdrawal feature directly online. This option must be described in the legal notices or the general terms and conditions, with a clear reference to the dedicated form or button.
Before this date, a downloadable PDF form or a simple email was sufficient. This is no longer the case. The absence of this feature constitutes a punishable offense.
Environmental Labeling for Textiles
French regulations are gradually imposing environmental labeling for textile products. Clothing sales sites must anticipate this obligation, which concerns the ecological impact of each item (emissions, water, recyclability).
This system, distinct from legal notices in the strict sense, imposes new information on product sheets. It is relevant to mention in the legal notice page the site’s compliance with these requirements, or to refer to the environmental policy.
Sanctions and Common Errors on Online Fashion Sites
Sanctions for lack of legal notices are not symbolic. For an individual, the fine can reach up to one year of imprisonment and a significant fine. For a legal entity, the amount is multiplied.
The most common errors on online clothing boutiques are not the total absence of legal notices, but incomplete or outdated pages.
- The host is mentioned without an address or phone number, which does not comply with the requirements of articles 1-1 and 1-2 of the LCEN.
- The publisher’s phone number is missing, even though it has become mandatory.
- The notices do not incorporate the update related to the SREN law of May 2024, continuing to cite the old article 6 III.
- The legal notice page is confused with the general terms and conditions or the privacy policy. These are three distinct documents, even if they may coexist on the same page.
Confusing legal notices with the GDPR privacy policy is common. Legal notices identify the publisher of the site. The privacy policy details the processing of personal data. The general terms and conditions govern the commercial relationship with the buyer. Each document has its own legal basis.
For an online clothing sales site, the legal notice page remains a living document. Every change in status, registered office, host, or regulatory framework requires an update. Compliance is not verified once and for all; it is maintained with every evolution of the site or the law.