Town hall ban on identity photos

MAIRIES across France are to be banned from taking their own passport photos, following complaints from professional photographers.

A new government decree, published in yesterday's Journal Officiel, says only embassies and consulates can take photos and biometric data from people applying for or renewing their ID documents.

More than 2,000 town halls are equipped with the technology to take and develop photos and fingerprints for passports. They will have until December 31 to stop.

Professional photographers' union API had complained that the mairies were putting thousands of jobs in the photo industry at risk.

The union said the move was "a big victory for the photography profession".