Black Friday: MEPs want to ban promotional campaigns

MEPs have given the green light in committee to a ban on promotions of "Black Friday", while it is not the period of sales.

Promotions, advertising campaigns, communication on social networks ... A few days of Black Friday , an air of sales permeates the shopping streets of the cities of France and the sites of major retailers. And yet, this is not the period: the deputies have thus authorized in committee a ban on the promotion campaigns of "Black Friday".

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This amendment to the anti-waste bill, adopted on the night of Monday to Tuesday, has yet to be examined in the hemicycle since 9 December. It will not apply Friday at Black Friday, a commercial event imported from the United States and often generates a shopping frenzy.

Fight against "overconsumption"

It is the non-registered member and former Minister of Ecology Delphine Batho who carries this measure and wants to end Black Friday, in the name of the fight against "overconsumption". MEPs propose to include Black Friday's advertising in "aggressive commercial practices", punishable by two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to EUR 300,000.

"Black Friday celebrates a model of anti-ecological and anti-social consumption," said MP Matthieu Orphelin (former LREM), close to Nicolas Hulot. On Monday on BFM Business , Minister for Environmental Transition Élisabeth Borne warned against the "consumption frenzy" related to Black Friday and criticized its negative impact on the environment.

"Big sell-off of the planet"

Under the slogan "Block Friday", groups of environmental activists like Extinction Rebellion, Youth for climate or Attac have planned actions everywhere in France on Friday to denounce "the big sell-off of the planet" that they represent Black Friday.

The young climate activists of Youth for climate promise on Twitter "a big action of civil disobedience" in Paris. On Monday evening, MEPs voted in favor of an amendment by MoDem Jimmy Pahun, aimed at banning "biodegradable" or "environmentally friendly" labeling on products and packaging, as these criteria do not correspond to "no definition". reliable".