Do you want to translate a website, but not have all the legal information relating to the target country? In order for your site to ensure compliance with translation regulation and local laws, it is preferable to call on a translation agency.
Why should you pay attention to translation regulation for your website?
Each country has its own specific legislation.
For example, in France, consumers benefit from the Châtel Law or the DDADUE and consumer protection law. There are also many laws relating to safety or installation standards for certain products. With regard to cosmetics, food supplements, CBD, food, tools, etc., the same applies. Each country has different laws.
French laws only apply in France. They are not valid in other countries.
In fact, when you have your website translated, you are likely to have texts translated that are not adapted to the target country. Worse still, you are likely to have a website that presents information that could be considered fraudulent.
You are then putting your company at legal risk.
The regulations in force differ from one country to another. Thus, NF standards have little value outside of France. Similarly, some materials are permitted in some markets and not others. Products certified “organic” do not have the same eligibility criteria depending on whether you are in Europe, Asia, or Latin America.
So how do you obtain a legally valid translation?
How do I get a translation that complies with the laws of a foreign country?
There are two ways to be sure of having a website that respects the legislation of a third country:
- Call on the services of a translation agency;
- Use a lawyer who resides in the target country.
The first option is usually the best.
Tanslation regulation : call on the services of a translation agency
It is often more advantageous to use a translation agency for several reasons.
The first is financial. Indeed, when you use a translation agency to have your website translated, you only pay for one service: the translation.The legality of the contents is generally included in the tariff. In addition, translation agencies hire professional native translators. In fact, they are aware of most of the applicable laws in their countries. They can also check these laws in the targeted language.
In addition, the SEO optimisation of content is a service that can be combined with the general service. So, you only pay once for a complete translation service.
The second refers to value in terms of time. When you use the services of a translation agency, you save time. Rather than having your content translated in-house or by a freelance translator, then having it checked by a competent person in the target country, everything is done by the translation agency. Lead times are therefore greatly reduced.
The third is practicality. You only have one point of contact for your entire web page translation project. This saves you even more time and simplifies the procedure.
To find out more about the price advantages linked to translation agency services, see our article Computer-Assisted Translation and Translation Memories: Definitions and Benefits
Call on a lawyer or a legal expert from the target country
Using the services of a competent person in terms of legislation has only one advantage: you can be sure that your texts are 100% in accordance with the legislation of the country concerned. This is an excellent option if your site deals with a subject that presents legal risks and must be fully in accordance with the laws in force.
On the other hand, if you have a classic e-commerce site, it is not necessary to call on a lawyer or a jurist. Indeed, for all the reasons mentioned above, using a translation agency will prove to be much more advantageous.
In addition, translation agencies usually have templates covering the classic general terms of sale (GTS) and general terms of use (GTU) specific to each country
