Fundamental legal sources
⚠️ Important: This course focuses exclusively on private sector procurement (B2B purchasing between companies). Public procurement is governed by a separate legal framework - the French Public Procurement Code (Code de la commande publique) - which imposes specific competition, publicity and transparency rules. If you are a public buyer, this course does not cover your specific regulatory obligations.
Legal sources
- French Civil Code - Book III, Title III - Sources of obligations (Art. 1100 to 1231-7)
- French Commercial Code - Commercial relations and payment terms
- Sapin II Law (No. 2016-1691) - Anti-corruption and transparency
- Duty of Vigilance Law (No. 2017-399) - Corporate duty of care
Private procurement contracts in France are governed by several fundamental legal texts, mastery of which is essential for any professional buyer.
The backbone of all contracts in France. The 2016 reform (Ordinance No. 2016-131 of 10 February 2016, effective 1 October 2016) modernised the rules on contract formation, validity, effects and remedies.
Applies to relations between merchants (commerçants). It governs payment terms, unfair commercial practices and competition. Article L441-10 on payment terms is critical in procurement.
Anti-corruption and transparency obligations directly affecting procurement processes. Applicable to companies with 500+ employees and over €100M in revenue.
Due diligence obligations regarding human rights and environmental impacts throughout the supply chain. Applicable to companies with 5,000+ employees in France.
Personal data protection obligations whenever supplier or employee data is processed.