In order to make the profession of newsagent more attractive, and improve the alignment of the selection of publications and number of copies delivered to points of sale (PoS) with the needs of newsagents’ customers, the “Bichet Act” entrusts the print media industry’s interprofessional organisation with the task of establishing the rules governing press title assortment, and determining the quantities displayed at points of sale (PoS), for non-political or general news publications registered with and recognised by France’s Joint Commission for Press Publications and Agencies (CPPAP). Stakeholders signed an interprofessional agreement in July 2021, as well as amendments to that agreement in September 2022 and in December 2024 bringing changes to the rules used to determine the number of copies shipped to PoS. Arcep issued opinions – on 7 December 2021[1], 21 March 2023[2] and 20 February 2025[3] – assessing the compliance of these agreements with the principles of the Bichet Act.
In February 2026, stakeholders submitted a new amendment to this agreement to Arcep, introducing changes to the rules governing title assortment and the number of copies shipped to points of sale.
Today, Arcep is publishing its opinion, taking note of the changes made to the rules governing title assortment and the number of copies shipped to points of sale, introduced by this amendment to the interprofessional agreement of 1 July 2021 on assortment and copy caps, for non-political or general news publications registered with and recognised by France’s Joint Commission for Press Publications and Agencies (CPPAP). It is also publishing the responses to the request for comments on this amendment, issued earlier this year.
The Authority will work to ensure the proper application of this interprofessional agreement, and will be especially mindful of ensuring that newsagents are informed of the new rules governing caps on the number of copies shipped, and the arrangements for applying these rules. It also invites stakeholders to provide an annual assessment of newsagents’ appropriation of the interprofessional agreement on title assortment and copy caps, during the meeting of the conciliation committee on press distribution.
Associated documents:
- Arcep Opinion No. 2026-0893 of 19 May 2026 on the amendment to the interprofessional agreement cited in Para. 2 of Article 5 of Law No. 47-585
- “Amendment to the interprofessional assortment and copy cap agreement of 1 July 2021” Arcep press release of 12 February 2026
- Contributions to the call for comments on the amendment to the interprofessional agreement setting the rules governing the assortment and number of copies shipped to points of sale, for non-political or general news “CPPAP” titles