French Language Requirement in Quebec - IVD manufacturer in the US

G

GPjeri

#1
So, we got a notice from a distributor in Quebec that they/we need to comply with the Francization Charter ??????????? that requires EVERYTHING to be in French. We are an IVD manufacturer in the US. Supposedly for the few products we sell there we need to have our PO or contract, all associated boxes, shipping docs, etc in French. This is going to be expensive. Does anyone have any experience with this? I thought perhaps since our customers are only professionals/clinicians we mgiht have an out. I also found out this Charter has been in place since 1977 but I just heard about it.

Your replies are GREATLY appreciated.
jeri :thanx:
 
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J

Jason PCSwitches

#2
Re: French language requirement in Quebec

You could always try and take exception to it. If the buyer agrees then your off the hook. Otherwise, bonne chance!
 
G

GPjeri

#3
Re: French language requirement in Quebec

The problem is there are financial consequences/fines 'if' the distrbutor is cited for non-compliance, up to $7000.
 
T

tamale

#4
Things like this really tick me off.

Your distributor has got it all wrong. The charter states that the following documents must be in French: directions for use and warranties.

In the case of medical apparatus, if the product is not for retail sale and the it weighs 100 grams or less you will comply by supplying a separate «directions for use» and product warranty sheet.

Many small suppliers simply put the necessary information on a separate label and stick on the Quebec bound product.

There is nothing in any law that states that you must do business in french. Do not touch your transactional documents. The regulations in place for contracts, invoicing etc.. are for Quebec businesses doing business with other Quebec businesses.

You must understand the the law is there to protect the uni-lingual french end user of your product.

Besides it's good business.

Gotta go before I go on rant! :mad:

Tamale
 

RA Guy

Involved In Discussions
#6
tmale, here is the language from the Charter as found on the web today:

CHAPTER VII
THE LANGUAGE OF COMMERCE AND BUSINESS


Labels, directions, warranties, menus: in French.
51. Every inscription on a product, on its container or on its wrapping, or on a document or object supplied with it, including the directions for use and the warranty certificates, must be drafted in French. This rule applies also to menus and wine lists.


Other languages.
The French inscription may be accompanied with a translation or translations, but no inscription in another language may be given greater prominence than that in French.


1977, c. 5, s. 51; 1997, c. 24, s. 24.


I don't interpret the charter per your e-mail in that it states "every inscription" must be translated, "including" the IFU and warranties.

http://www2.publicationsduquebec.go...h/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_11/C11_A.html

Perhaps there are allowances in the interpretation and enforcement that would allow for inscriptions to remain in a non-French language. Or perhaps the English version of the Charter looses something in translation (sorry could not resist that one).

Clarification appreciated and Happy Canada Day tomorrow.
Happy 4th to our American friends on Monday.

Cheers,
RA Guy
 
G

GPjeri

#7
Thanks RA Guy,

I did read the Charter yesterday, oh what fun! It's hard to interpret specific to our products, I would have thought since it's been around since 1977 that we would have been called on it by now; if indeed we were out of compliance. Our instructions for use are available in French and all of our products include a business card in the native lanugage for the region instructing the user to go to our web site or call our customer svc if they want a hard copy in their language.
 
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