For an online store intended for individuals in France, provide at least legal notices, general conditions of sale, a confidentiality policy, compliant management of cookies, as well as clear information on delivery, withdrawal, returns, guarantees and consumer mediation.
This information does not necessarily have to occupy eight separate pages: some can be grouped together in the General Terms and Conditions. However, they must remain easy to find, understandable and accessible before ordering. Seller status, products, targeted countries and business model may add other obligations.
Guide written by SiteQuiVend, specialist in the creation and redesign of websites and Shopify stores. Information updated in August 2026.
What legal pages should be provided?
The base useful to the majority of French B2C stores can be summarized as follows. The "status" column indicates a general rule, not an individual diagnosis.
| Page or information | Role | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Imprint | Identify publisher and host | Mandatory |
| T&Cs | Supervise sales to the consumer | Mandatory in B2C |
| Confidentiality | Explain data processing and rights | Mandatory if data collected |
| Cookies and preferences | Inform and collect choices before non-exempt trackers | According to the tracers |
| Delivery | Specify areas, costs, deadlines and terms | Pre-contractual information |
| Withdrawal and returns | Explain the deadline, procedure, fees and exceptions | Mandatory in remote B2C |
| Guarantees and after-sales service | Present legal guarantees and contact | Mandatory |
| Mediation | Appoint the competent consumer mediator | Mandatory in B2C |
1. The legal notices identify the seller
They allow the visitor to know who operates the site and how to contact them. Depending on the form of the company, it includes in particular the name or company name, address, e-mail, telephone, legal form and share capital when they apply, registration references, the intra-community VAT number if applicable, as well as the identity and contact details of the host.
The exact list depends on the status: individual entrepreneur, company or regulated profession. THE official summary of the French administration constitutes a good checkpoint. Avoid hiding this page behind a form or customer account.
2. The General Terms and Conditions govern the order
The general conditions of sale explain the contract offered to the customer. They must be readable before purchase and adapted to the actual journey of the store. A generic template copied from another site may mention bad deadlines, another mediator or conditions incompatible with your products.
Commercial points
- essential product characteristics;
- price including tax, additional fees and payment;
- order formation and confirmation;
- availability, delivery and transfer of risks.
Consumer protection
- right of withdrawal and standard form;
- legally applicable exceptions;
- legal guarantees and handling of complaints;
- contact details of the competent mediator.
If you only sell to professionals, the content is not identical. If the store targets both audiences, clearly separate the B2C and B2B rules. Subscriptions may also require online cancellation functionality and specific information.
3. Privacy and cookies: two related, but distinct, topics
The privacy policy describes what data is collected, why, on what basis, for how long, with which recipients, and how to exercise your rights. It must also provide information on possible transmission outside the European Union and on the possibility of contacting the CNIL.
Cookie management concerns trackers placed by the theme, applications, advertising or audience measurement tools. For non-exempt cookies, consent must be obtained before deposit. According to the CNIL, closing the banner does not constitute consent; refusing should be as simple as accepting.
4. Delivery, withdrawal, returns and guarantees
This information may appear in the General Terms and Conditions, but dedicated pages often make the journey more reassuring. Indicate the countries delivered, carriers or methods offered, costs, announced deadlines, tracking, procedure in the event of a lost or damaged package and consequences of an incorrect address.
For distance selling to an individual, the withdrawal period is in principle fourteen days. There are exceptions, for example for certain personalized products, which are quickly perishable or unsealed for hygiene reasons. They should not be applied arbitrarily: check that your category is actually covered. The official page on the right of withdrawal when purchasing remotely recalls the principle and several exceptions.
Finally, distinguish the commercial gesture from the legal guarantee. A short commercial guarantee cannot remove the customer's legal rights. Display a usable after-sales service contact and a procedure consistent with the means announced.
5. Mediation: beware of old models
A professional selling to consumers must provide the contact details of the consumer mediator to whom he reports. The organization must be chosen and referenced for your sector: do not copy the name of a mediator found in a competitor's T&Cs.
In 2026, remove old mentions requiring a link to the European online dispute resolution platform (ODR/ODR). European Regulation 2024/3228 removed this platform as of July 20, 2025. This closure does not remove the French obligation to provide information on the competent consumer mediator. Consult the official European text if your template still contains this old link.
How to organize these pages in Shopify?
In the footer
Add stable links to legal notices, General Terms and Conditions, confidentiality, cookies, delivery, returns and contact. Explicit titles are preferable to a vague "Information" link.
Close to purchasing decision
Remind the deadlines, costs, returns and guarantees on the product sheets, the basket or the checkout when they influence the order. The footer does not correct missing essential information.
In Shopify settings
Check policy templates, store contact information, notifications, markets, taxes, and privacy settings. Published text must match actual settings.
With every change
Review the pages if you add a country, subscription, tracking app, new carrier, regulated category, or payment method.
What support should you choose?
| Your need | Adapted speaker | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| Write or validate clauses adapted to your activity | Competent lawyer or lawyer | Personalized legal content |
| Create pages, menu, links and integrate your texts | SiteWhoVends | Clear presentation and technical integration |
| Correct an existing store and harmonize the route | SiteQuiVend redesign or support, with legal validation if necessary | Consistency between pages, interface and settings |
SiteQuiVend intervenes on the creation, there recast and the technical support. The support can organize and integrate the content provided, but does not replace personalized legal advice. To strengthen the journey beyond the mandatory pages, also consult the guide for make a Shopify store more credible.
Checklist before going live
FAQ about the legal pages of an online store
Are the legal notices and General Terms and Conditions the same thing?
No. The legal notices identify the publisher and the host. The General Terms and Conditions govern the contractual relationship and the conditions of sale.
Is there a need for a separate page for each policy?
Not always. Several pieces of information can be grouped together in the General Terms and Conditions, provided they remain readable, accessible and easy to find before purchasing.
Are Shopify automatic templates enough?
They can serve as a starting point, but must be tailored to the seller, products, markets, deadlines and tools actually used. Legal validation may be necessary.
Does the right of withdrawal apply to all products?
The principle is a period of fourteen days for distance selling to individuals, with exceptions provided for by law. You must check their application to your offer.
Should I display a cookies banner on Shopify?
It depends on the trackers used. Non-essential cookies subject to consent must not be placed before the user's choice, and refusal must remain simple.
Should I still mention the European dispute resolution platform?
No. The ODR/ODR platform was deleted on July 20, 2025. On the other hand, information on the competent consumer mediator remains necessary in B2C.
Are the bonds the same in B2B and B2C?
No. Consumer protection rules concern B2C. A mixed store must clearly distinguish the conditions applicable to each customer.
When should legal pages be updated?
With each significant development: new country, regulated product, carrier, subscription, tracking application, means of payment, contact details or legal organization.
Fair, visible and coherent pages
Legal pages are not just a block to copy into the footer. They must reflect the actual functioning of the store and support a transparent purchasing journey. Have the clauses that engage your responsibility validated, then ensure that their integration into Shopify remains clear on computer and mobile.
