Triman Logo: Brussels takes France to the CJEU over its waste labeling regulations

Brussels, July 17, 2025 – The European Commission has decided to refer France to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) over its national waste separation labeling regulations, specifically the requirement to include the Triman logo and the "infotri" supplementary information on products subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR).

According to the European Commission, this regulation imposed by France violates Articles 34 to 36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as it constitutes a barrier to the free movement of goods within the internal market.

The Commission argues that, in the absence of harmonized rules on waste separation labeling at the European level, the imposition of a national system like the French one forces manufacturers in other Member States to modify their packaging exclusively for the French market, which represents an unjustified obstacle to intra-European trade.

Table of contents

1. Disproportionate obligations and lack of notification

2. A long process with a history

3. The end of Triman as we know it?

Triman Logo: Brussels takes France to the CJEU over its waste labeling regulations

Disproportionate obligations and lack of notification

Beyond the incompatibility with the single market, the Commission considers that France has failed to comply with the prior notification obligation established by Directive (EU) 2015/1535 on transparency in the internal market by failing to provide information on the content of this measure before its adoption.

In its analysis, the European Executive also points out that there are less restrictive alternatives for informing consumers about how to classify waste, without the need to impose exclusive labels for a single country. This issue will be subject to future harmonization within the framework of the new Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste, which provides for specific implementing acts on this matter.

A long process with a history

The infringement came as no surprise: the Commission had already sent a letter of formal notice to France in February 2023, followed by a reasoned opinion in November 2024. Since no corrective measures were adopted, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was ultimately consulted.

The measure is part of the Commission's strategy to ensure the effective functioning of the single market , as highlighted in the recent Communication COM(2025)500, which focuses on removing barriers affecting the competitiveness of European businesses and consumer rights.

The end of Triman as we know it?

The Triman logo, mandatory in France since 2022 to indicate the recyclability of products, has been a source of controversy in sectors such as cosmetics, food, and packaging. Its possible invalidation at the European level would mark a turning point in environmental labeling policy and highlights the need for unified standards for all Member States.

For now, the future of Triman will depend on the Court's ruling, but the message is clear: the Commission will not tolerate national regulations that hinder intra-European trade without a proportional and harmonized basis.