Slow start to new Sunday trade plan

NEW rules on Sunday trading officially came into effect yesterday – but the impact was limited.

The main difference was that food shops which already had permission to open until noon were able to open until 13.00, while in those areas already classed as “tourist zones” all shops were theoretically able to open all day instead of just businesses of a leisure or cultural kind.

However, with Sunday falling after the Assumption bank holiday and in mid-August when many French workers are on holiday, most towns saw little difference.

In Paris many shops on the big shopping streets remained closed, though luxury luggage shops Lancel and Louis Vuitton on the Champs-Elysées were among those who chose to take advantage of the relaxed laws.

Areas seeking to be classified as “tourist zones,” but not among those already listed as such will have to wait for clarifications as to how they can apply for the status, as will areas in the Paris, Lille or Marseille areas which are to be classified as Périmètres d'Usage de Consommation Exceptionnel (puces). A government decree clarifying the rules on establishing puces is expected next month.

In some of these areas, like Plan de Campagne, in the Marseille area, shops have been opening on Sunday without permission – a situation that is meant to be regularised by the new rules. They will have to sign up to requirements including double pay.

In Lille, the La Voix du Nord reported there was little effect as shops remained closed because their owners were on holiday.

However market traders in the old town were reported to be worried about the impact of other shops being able to open all day when they finish trading in the early afternoon.

“Our customers come later and later – soon they will not get up at all Sunday morning and will go to other shops in the afternoon,” said one.

Toulouse also saw little impact yesterday, according to France Soir.

Photo: ATOUT FRANCE Jean François Tripelon-Jarry