Code pénal (France)

The Code pénal is the codification of French criminal law (droit pénal). It took effect March 1, 1994 and replaced the French Penal Code of 1810, which had until then been in effect. This in turn has become known as the "old penal code" in the rare decisions that still need to apply it.

The new code was created by several laws promulgated on July 22, 1992. It introduced the judicial notion of fundamental national interests (intérêts fondamentaux de la nation) (Book IV, Title I).