Terms of sale

Terms and Conditions of Sale

Last updated: 8 October 2026.

Article 1. Seller identification

The website www.univers-aquaponie.com is operated by the company AQUAPONEASY FRANCE, which runs the Univers Aquaponie shop (hereinafter "Univers Aquaponie" or "we").

• Legal form: simplified joint-stock company (SAS) with share capital of €100.00.
• Registered office: 14 rue du Hommel, 57600 Forbach, France.
• Registration: RCS Sarreguemines 981 599 996.
• Intra-Community VAT number: FR86981599996.
• Email address: contact@univers-aquaponie.com.
• Telephone: +33 6 95 84 16 78.
• Returns address: Dépôt Univers Aquaponie, 31B rue Saint-Quentin, 67150 Erstein, France.

Univers Aquaponie is the seller responsible to you for the statutory guarantees of conformity and against hidden defects. You may contact us using the details above for any request relating to these guarantees.

Article 2. Scope

These general terms and conditions of sale (hereinafter the "T&Cs") apply to all sales of products and digital content concluded on the website www.univers-aquaponie.com between Univers Aquaponie and any person who places an order (hereinafter "you" or the "customer").

The T&Cs are available at any time on the website. You must accept them before confirming your order. The version that applies to your order is the one in force on the date of the order. We recommend that you save or print it.

The T&Cs are written in French. Translated versions are provided for your information. In the event of any difference between a translated version and the French version, the French version prevails, unless a mandatory consumer protection rule of your country of residence provides otherwise.

2.1. Consumer customers

A consumer is any natural person who acts for purposes that fall outside their commercial, industrial, craft, professional or agricultural activity. Consumers benefit from all the rights provided for by the French Consumer Code, in particular the right of withdrawal and the statutory guarantee of conformity. No clause of the T&Cs may be interpreted as limiting these rights.

2.2. Business customers

The T&Cs also apply to customers who buy for the purposes of their professional activity, with the following adaptations:

• the right of withdrawal provided for consumers does not apply, except in the case provided for in Article L221-3 of the Consumer Code (a business employing no more than 5 employees, for a purchase that falls outside the scope of its main activity);
• the statutory guarantee of conformity under the Consumer Code does not apply; the business customer benefits from the guarantee of conforming delivery provided for by the Civil Code and from the guarantee against hidden defects provided for in Articles 1641 et seq. of the Civil Code;
• payment is required at the time of the order; in the event of late payment in any other situation, late-payment penalties are due at the interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its most recent refinancing operation plus 10 percentage points, together with a fixed recovery cost allowance of €40 (Article L441-10 of the Commercial Code);
• an invoice compliant with the regulations is issued for each order. If you would like an invoice in your company's name showing your VAT number, please provide this information when ordering or contact us before dispatch.

Article 3. Products

3.1. Characteristics

The website offers aquaponics, hydroponics, aquarium and pond equipment, fertilisers, grow media, water tests and reagents, fish food, veterinary medicines for aquariums, greenhouses, worm composters, live plants, seeds, live organisms and online training courses.

The essential characteristics of each product (description, dimensions, composition, conditions of use, precautions, delivery time and, where applicable, the manufacturer's guarantee) are set out on its product page. Photographs are for illustration; only the written characteristics on the product page have contractual value. Please read the product page before ordering and follow the instructions supplied with the product.

Products are offered while stocks last. If a product becomes unavailable after your order, we will inform you without delay. You may then choose to wait for it to be back in stock, if a lead time can be given to you, or to cancel the order for that product. In the event of cancellation, we will refund the sums paid for that product within 14 days at the latest.

3.2. Live plants, seeds and live organisms

Aquatic plants, rhizomes, young plants and compost worms are live products. They are dispatched according to a schedule suited to their biological cycle and to the season, as stated on the product page. Some are dispatched directly by the grower, in a separate parcel.

On receipt, open the parcel without delay and follow the planting or setting-up instructions given on the product page or enclosed with the parcel. A live product that arrives dead, dried out or in poor condition falls under the statutory guarantee of conformity: please let us know as soon as possible, with photographs, so that we can offer you a replacement or a refund.

Live plants and live organisms are goods liable to deteriorate rapidly: they are excluded from the right of withdrawal (see Article 8.6). Seeds packaged in sachets are not covered by this exclusion.

3.3. Hazardous products

Certain products, in particular water test reagents, fertilisers and treatment products, are classified as hazardous under the regulations on the labelling of chemical products. Pictograms, hazard statements and precautionary statements appear on the label and, where possible, on the product page. The safety data sheet is available on request.

These products must be kept out of the reach of children and used in accordance with their label. They may only be purchased by adults.

The transport of some of these products is subject to restrictions that may prevent them from being sent to certain destinations or by certain delivery methods. Where this is the case, the website does not offer the delivery option concerned. If a restriction only becomes apparent after your order, we will inform you and refund the product concerned and the corresponding delivery charges within 14 days at the latest.

3.4. Veterinary medicines for aquariums

The veterinary medicines offered on the website are products intended for ornamental fish and available without a prescription. They must only be used for the animals and purposes set out in their instructions, observing the doses stated. They must not be used for fish intended for human consumption unless the instructions expressly allow it. Once unsealed, they cannot be taken back under the right of withdrawal for health protection reasons (see Article 8.6).

3.5. Online training courses

The online training courses sold on the website are digital content supplied without a tangible medium. They are delivered on the platform of a partner training organisation, shown on the product page. After payment, you receive the access details by email. The access conditions (duration, required computer set-up, content) are set out on the product page. The specific rules on the right of withdrawal for this content are in Article 8.7, and the statutory guarantee of conformity that applies to it is in Article 9.3.

3.6. Books offered through affiliation

Some books are shown on the website with a button that links to the Amazon website. These books are not sold by Univers Aquaponie. If you click this button and buy the book, the contract of sale is concluded between you and Amazon or the seller shown on Amazon, under their own terms. These T&Cs do not apply to that purchase. As an Amazon partner, Univers Aquaponie earns a commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

3.7. Partner offers and gifts

Some kits come with a gift offer described on their product page. The gift is dispatched separately by Univers Aquaponie and may arrive on a different date from the kit. The offer is valid under the conditions and for the period stated on the product page. As the gift is linked to the purchase of the kit, it must be returned with the kit if you exercise your right of withdrawal on the kit.

3.8. Made-to-order or prepared-to-order products

Some products are made or prepared after your order, for example terracotta worm composters and certain workshop kits. Their longer delivery time is stated on the product page. A product made to a catalogue design remains covered by the right of withdrawal; only a product made to your specifications or clearly personalised at your request is excluded.

Article 4. Prices

Prices are shown in euros, inclusive of all taxes (incl. VAT), that is, including French VAT at the rate applicable on the day of the order. They do not include delivery charges, which are shown before you confirm your order and added to the summary.

The price charged is the one displayed when you confirm your order. We may change our prices at any time, but a change never applies to an order that has already been confirmed.

Where a price reduction is announced, the reference price shown is the lowest price charged during the 30 days preceding the reduction, in accordance with Article L112-1-1 of the Consumer Code.

For delivery outside the European Union, the VAT applied and the final price are those shown in the order summary. Any customs duties, import taxes and clearance fees charged by the destination country are payable by the recipient, unless the order summary states that they were paid at the time of the order. The same applies to overseas territories subject to specific taxes (in particular octroi de mer).

If a clearly incorrect price, bearing no relation to the value of the product, appears as the result of a clerical error, we will inform you as soon as we notice it. You may then confirm the order at the correct price or cancel it; in the event of cancellation, we will refund you in full within 14 days at the latest.

Article 5. Ordering

To place an order, you follow these steps:

• you select the products and add them to your basket;
• you enter your contact details and delivery address, then choose a delivery method from those offered for your destination;
• you check the order summary (products, quantities, prices, delivery charges, total price) and can correct it;
• you accept the T&Cs, then confirm the order by clicking the payment button, which constitutes an order with an obligation to pay.

The contract is concluded when the order is confirmed. We send you a confirmation email without delay, summarising the order. Please keep it: it serves as proof of your order. If the invoice was not sent to you with the order, it will be provided on simple request.

We may refuse or cancel an order only for a legitimate reason, in particular non-payment, an order that is abnormal compared with the quantities a consumer usually orders, a dispute over the payment of a previous order or suspected fraud. Any sum already paid is then refunded within 14 days at the latest.

The data recorded by our ordering system and by our payment providers constitute proof of transactions, unless you provide proof to the contrary by any means.

Article 6. Payment

The total price is payable at the time of the order. The accepted payment methods are those displayed on the payment page. No additional charges are made depending on the payment method chosen.

Payments are processed by specialist payment providers over encrypted connections. Univers Aquaponie does not have access to your full bank details and does not store them.

The order is processed once the provider has confirmed payment. If payment is declined, the order is not confirmed.

Article 7. Delivery

7.1. Delivery areas and methods

We deliver to mainland France, Monaco, Andorra, the overseas departments and territories, throughout the European Union and to many other countries. The available destinations, carriers and delivery methods, and their prices, are displayed before you confirm your order, depending on the delivery address and on the weight and volume of the products. Details are on the Delivery page.

7.2. Delivery time

The delivery time for each product is shown on its product page and repeated when you order. It includes, where applicable, the preparation or manufacturing time and the transit time with the carrier. We undertake to deliver within this time.

Where no delivery time is stated, we deliver without undue delay and no later than 30 days after the contract is concluded, in accordance with Article L216-1 of the Consumer Code.

An order containing several products may be delivered in several parcels, on different dates, because some products are dispatched from different locations (our depot, a partner workshop or a grower). Each parcel is delivered within the time stated for the product it contains.

7.3. Late delivery

If the product is not delivered within the stated time, you may call on us, by email or post, to deliver within a reasonable additional period. If delivery does not take place within this additional period, you may terminate (cancel) the contract by email or post. You may terminate the contract immediately, without an additional period, if we refuse to deliver, if it is clear that we will not deliver, or if the delivery time was an essential condition of the contract for you (Article L216-6 of the Consumer Code).

After termination, we refund all sums paid, delivery charges included, within 14 days at the latest of the date of termination (Article L216-7 of the Consumer Code). These rules apply without prejudice to any claim for damages.

7.4. Transfer of risk

For consumers, the risk of loss or damage to the products passes to you when you, or a third party designated by you, take physical possession of the products (Article L216-2 of the Consumer Code). Until then, a parcel lost or damaged in transit remains our responsibility: we will then send the product again or refund you. If you yourself entrust the product to a carrier that we did not offer, the risk passes to you when the goods are handed over to the carrier (Article L216-3).

For business customers, risk passes when the products are handed over to the carrier, unless otherwise agreed.

7.5. Receipt

We recommend that you check the condition of the parcel in the presence of the delivery person and, in the event of visible damage (opened, crushed or wet box), note specific reservations on the delivery note or in the carrier's app, then notify us promptly with photographs. These steps make it easier to handle your claim with the carrier. Failing to take them does not deprive you of your rights: the statutory guarantee of conformity applies even if no reservation was made on receipt (Article L216-5 of the Consumer Code).

7.6. Delivery address

Check the delivery address before confirming the order. If a parcel is returned to us because the address given is incomplete or incorrect, or because it was not collected within the pick-up point's holding period, we will contact you. We may send it out again at your expense, at the rate for the new shipment, or refund the price of the products.

Article 8. Right of withdrawal

8.1. Period

If you are a consumer, you have 14 days to withdraw from your order, without having to give a reason and without bearing any costs other than those stated below (Articles L221-18 et seq. of the Consumer Code).

The period runs from the day on which you, or a third party other than the carrier and designated by you, take physical possession of the product. If your order includes several products delivered separately, the period runs from receipt of the last product. For digital content supplied without a tangible medium, the period runs from the conclusion of the contract. The day of receipt or of conclusion of the contract is not counted. If the period expires on a Saturday, a Sunday or a public or non-working holiday, it is extended to the next working day.

8.2. How to withdraw

You inform us of your decision to withdraw before the period expires, by one of the following means:

• the online withdrawal function "Renoncer au contrat ici" ("Withdraw from the contract here"), accessible free of charge from the button shown on every page of the website throughout the withdrawal period; after you send it, you receive an acknowledgement of receipt by email without delay, restating the content of your declaration and the date and time it was sent;
• an email to contact@univers-aquaponie.com;
• a letter sent by post to AQUAPONEASY FRANCE, Univers Aquaponie, 14 rue du Hommel, 57600 Forbach, France.

You may use the model withdrawal form in the annex to the T&Cs, but this is not compulsory: any unambiguous statement of your wish to withdraw is sufficient. Please include your order number to make it easier to process. To meet the deadline, it is enough to send your declaration before the period expires.

8.3. Returning products

You return the products without undue delay and in any event within 14 days of notifying us of your decision to withdraw, to the following address: Dépôt Univers Aquaponie, 31B rue Saint-Quentin, 67150 Erstein, France. This deadline is met if you send the products back before it expires.

The direct cost of returning the products is borne by you. For products which, because of their weight or size, cannot normally be returned by post and are delivered by a courier or pallet carrier, the direct cost of return is estimated at a maximum of approximately €350.

Pack the products carefully, preferably in their original packaging or in packaging that provides equivalent protection, and keep proof of postage.

8.4. Refund

We refund all sums paid, including the original delivery charges, without undue delay and no later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed of your decision to withdraw. If you expressly chose a more expensive delivery method than the cheapest standard delivery method we offered, the difference in price remains payable by you.

We may defer the refund until we have received the products or until you have provided proof of dispatch, whichever is earlier.

The refund is made using the same payment method as that used for the order, unless you expressly agree to another method. It incurs no charge to you.

8.5. Condition of returned products

You may handle the products as you would in a shop, to establish their nature, characteristics and proper functioning. You are liable only for any diminished value of the products resulting from handling other than what is necessary to establish their nature, characteristics and proper functioning (Article L221-23 of the Consumer Code). In that case, we may deduct from the refund an amount corresponding to the diminished value found, which we will justify to you.

Returning a product that is incomplete, damaged or used beyond this testing does not deprive you of a refund: only the resulting loss of value may be deducted.

8.6. Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

In accordance with Article L221-28 of the Consumer Code, the right of withdrawal cannot be exercised for:

• goods liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly, in particular live plants (aquatic plants, lotus and water lily rhizomes, young plants) and live organisms (compost worms);
• goods that you have unsealed after delivery and that cannot be returned for reasons of hygiene or health protection, in particular veterinary medicines, water test reagents, water treatment products and fish food whose original seal or lid has been opened;
• goods made to your specifications or clearly personalised;
• goods which, after delivery and by their nature, are inseparably mixed with other items;
• digital content supplied without a tangible medium under the conditions described in Article 8.7.

As long as they remain unsealed, products in the second category remain covered by the right of withdrawal. The exceptions that apply to a product are restated on its product page.

8.7. Online training courses

For an online training course, you have 14 days from the conclusion of the contract to withdraw. If you wish to access the course before the end of this period, we ask for your express agreement, before payment, for access to begin immediately, and your acknowledgement that you will thereby lose your right of withdrawal. We confirm this agreement to you by email. In that case, the right of withdrawal can no longer be exercised once performance has begun, that is, as soon as access is opened to you.

If this express agreement has not been obtained, or has not been confirmed to you, you keep your right of withdrawal for 14 days and you owe no sum in the event of withdrawal (Article L221-26 of the Consumer Code).

Article 9. Statutory guarantees

Whatever the product purchased, you benefit from the statutory guarantee of conformity and the statutory guarantee against hidden defects. These guarantees are owed by Univers Aquaponie, as seller. To make use of them, contact us at contact@univers-aquaponie.com, on +33 6 95 84 16 78 or by post at 14 rue du Hommel, 57600 Forbach, France, giving your order number, the defect found and, if possible, photographs. We will tell you how to proceed. The cost of returning a non-conforming product is borne by us.

9.1. Regulatory information on the statutory guarantees applicable to goods

The following text reproduces the information box required by Article D211-2 of the Consumer Code.

The consumer has a period of two years from delivery of the goods to obtain the application of the statutory guarantee of conformity if a lack of conformity appears. During this period, the consumer is required to establish only the existence of the lack of conformity and not the date on which it appeared.

Where the contract of sale of the goods provides for the continuous supply of digital content or a digital service for a period of more than two years, the statutory guarantee applies to that digital content or digital service throughout the supply period provided for. During this period, the consumer is required to establish only the existence of the lack of conformity affecting the digital content or digital service and not the date on which it appeared.

The statutory guarantee of conformity entails an obligation on the trader, where applicable, to provide all updates necessary to maintain the conformity of the goods.

The statutory guarantee of conformity gives the consumer the right to have the goods repaired or replaced within thirty days of the request, free of charge and without major inconvenience to the consumer.

If the goods are repaired under the statutory guarantee of conformity, the consumer benefits from a six-month extension of the original guarantee.

If the consumer requests repair of the goods, but the seller imposes replacement, the statutory guarantee of conformity is renewed for a period of two years from the date of replacement of the goods.

The consumer may obtain a reduction in the purchase price while keeping the goods, or terminate the contract and obtain a full refund against return of the goods, if:

• 1° The trader refuses to repair or replace the goods;
• 2° The repair or replacement of the goods takes place after a period of thirty days;
• 3° The repair or replacement of the goods causes major inconvenience to the consumer, in particular where the consumer permanently bears the costs of collecting or removing the non-conforming goods, or bears the costs of installing the repaired or replacement goods;
• 4° The lack of conformity of the goods persists despite the seller's unsuccessful attempt to bring them into conformity.

The consumer is also entitled to a reduction in the price of the goods or to termination of the contract where the lack of conformity is so serious that it justifies an immediate price reduction or termination. The consumer is then not required to request repair or replacement of the goods beforehand.

The consumer is not entitled to termination of the sale if the lack of conformity is minor.

Any period during which the goods are immobilised for repair or replacement suspends the guarantee that remained to run until the repaired goods are delivered.

The rights mentioned above result from the application of Articles L. 217-1 to L. 217-32 of the Consumer Code.

A seller who in bad faith obstructs the application of the statutory guarantee of conformity is liable to a civil fine of up to €300,000, which may be increased to 10% of average annual turnover (Article L. 241-5 of the Consumer Code).

The consumer also benefits from the statutory guarantee against hidden defects under Articles 1641 to 1649 of the Civil Code, for a period of two years from discovery of the defect. This guarantee entitles the consumer to a price reduction if the goods are kept or to a full refund against return of the goods.

9.2. Guarantee against hidden defects

We are bound by the guarantee in respect of hidden defects in the product sold that make it unfit for its intended use, or that so impair that use that you would not have bought it, or would have paid a lower price, had you known of them (Article 1641 of the Civil Code). Proceedings must be brought within two years of discovery of the defect (Article 1648 of the Civil Code). You may choose between termination of the sale and a price reduction (Article 1644 of the Civil Code).

9.3. Regulatory information on the statutory guarantee applicable to digital content (online training courses)

The following text reproduces the information box required by Article D211-3 of the Consumer Code for digital content supplied in a single act.

The consumer has a period of two years from the supply of the digital content or digital service to obtain the application of the statutory guarantee of conformity if a lack of conformity appears. During a period of one year from the date of supply, the consumer is required to establish only the existence of the lack of conformity and not the date on which it appeared.

The statutory guarantee of conformity entails an obligation to provide all updates necessary to maintain the conformity of the digital content or digital service.

The statutory guarantee of conformity gives the consumer the right to have the digital content or digital service brought into conformity without undue delay following the request, free of charge and without major inconvenience to the consumer.

The consumer may obtain a price reduction while keeping the digital content or digital service, or may terminate the contract and obtain a full refund against giving up the digital content or digital service, if:

• 1° The trader refuses to bring the digital content or digital service into conformity;
• 2° Bringing the digital content or digital service into conformity is unjustifiably delayed;
• 3° Bringing the digital content or digital service into conformity cannot be done without cost to the consumer;
• 4° Bringing the digital content or digital service into conformity causes major inconvenience to the consumer;
• 5° The lack of conformity of the digital content or digital service persists despite the trader's unsuccessful attempt to bring it into conformity.

The consumer is also entitled to a price reduction or to termination of the contract where the lack of conformity is so serious that it justifies an immediate price reduction or termination. The consumer is then not required to request that the digital content or digital service be brought into conformity beforehand.

Where the lack of conformity is minor, the consumer is entitled to cancel the contract only if the contract does not provide for payment of a price.

Any period of unavailability of the digital content or digital service while it is being brought back into conformity suspends the guarantee that remained to run until the digital content or digital service is supplied again in conformity.

The rights mentioned above result from the application of Articles L. 224-25-1 to L. 224-25-31 of the Consumer Code.

A trader who in bad faith obstructs the application of the statutory guarantee of conformity is liable to a civil fine of up to €300,000, which may be increased to 10% of average annual turnover (Article L. 242-18-1 of the Consumer Code).

The consumer also benefits from the statutory guarantee against hidden defects under Articles 1641 to 1649 of the Civil Code, for a period of two years from discovery of the defect. This guarantee entitles the consumer to a price reduction if the digital content or digital service is kept, or to a full refund against giving up the digital content or digital service.

Article 10. Manufacturer's guarantee

Univers Aquaponie does not grant any commercial guarantee of its own. Some products benefit from a commercial guarantee granted by their manufacturer, the existence, duration and conditions of which are stated on the product page or in the documentation supplied with the product. This guarantee is in addition to the statutory guarantees described in Article 9 and does not replace them: you may always turn to us, as seller, under the statutory guarantees.

Article 11. Liability

We are responsible for the proper performance of the obligations arising from your order, under the conditions provided for by law. We cannot be held liable where non-performance or poor performance of the contract is attributable to you, to the unforeseeable and unavoidable act of a third party to the contract, or to a case of force majeure.

Products must be installed, used and maintained in accordance with their instructions, their label and the guidance on the product page. Damage resulting from installation, use or maintenance that does not comply with these instructions cannot be attributed to us. This rule does not limit your rights under the statutory guarantees.

The technical advice published on the website or given by our customer service is provided to help you choose and use the products. It takes into account the information available to us and does not replace the manufacturer's instructions.

For business customers, our liability is limited to direct and foreseeable damage and cannot exceed the price of the order concerned, except in the case of gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

Article 12. Personal data

The personal data collected when you place your order is processed by AQUAPONEASY FRANCE, the data controller, for the management of the order, delivery, customer relations and our legal obligations. The purposes, recipients, retention periods and your rights are detailed in our Privacy Policy.

Article 13. Customer service, mediation and disputes

13.1. Complaints

For any question or complaint, contact our customer service at contact@univers-aquaponie.com, on +33 6 95 84 16 78 or by post at 14 rue du Hommel, 57600 Forbach, France. We will do our best to reply as promptly as possible.

13.2. Consumer mediation

If your written complaint to our customer service has not resolved the dispute, you may use, free of charge, the consumer mediator to whom we are subject, in accordance with Articles L612-1 et seq. of the Consumer Code:

The name, postal address and website of this mediator are given in our legal notice.

The request for mediation must be submitted within a maximum of one year of your written complaint to our services. Using mediation is optional: you remain free to bring the matter directly before the competent court.

13.3. Disputes

Failing an amicable solution, the dispute may be brought before the competent court. If you are a consumer, you may bring proceedings, at your choice, before the court for the place where you lived when the contract was concluded or when the damaging event occurred, or before one of the courts having territorial jurisdiction under the Code of Civil Procedure. If you are a business customer, the dispute falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts within the area of the Court of Appeal of Metz.

Article 14. Governing law

The T&Cs and the contracts of sale concluded on the website are governed by French law. If you are a consumer residing in another country, this choice does not deprive you of the protection afforded to you by the mandatory provisions of the law of your country of residence.

Article 15. Changes to the T&Cs

We may change the T&Cs at any time. The T&Cs that apply to an order are those accepted when that order was placed. The date of the last update appears at the top of the document.

Annex. Model withdrawal form

(Please complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract.)

For the attention of AQUAPONEASY FRANCE, Univers Aquaponie, 14 rue du Hommel, 57600 Forbach, France, email address: contact@univers-aquaponie.com:

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*):

Ordered on (*)/received on (*):

Name of consumer(s):

Address of consumer(s):

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper):

Date:

(*) Delete as appropriate.