The provisional approval that had been granted to France Messagerie, to distribute daily newspapers and periodicals, expired on 30 June 2021. On 19 May 2021 the company submitted a request to Arcep to obtain a new authorisation [1].
France Messagerie has committed to implementing some of the currently unavailable functions and features listed in the specifications within a timetable extending up to 1 July 2022.
If France Messagerie states that the majority of the features and functions set forth in the specifications [2] are already available, it recognises that it has not physically had the time to implement some of them, given that the specifications were published in April 2021. It has nevertheless committed to implementing these features gradually, and that they should all be in place by 1 July 2022.
Among these features and functions, which are detailed in the Arcep decision, France Messagerie must set up:
- a platform that provides information on the availability in each point of sale of publications that it has been contracted to distribute (available as open datasets by 31 December 2021);
- certain processes stipulated in the specifications regarding, first, the distribution of publications not registered with France’s Joint Commission for Press Publications (CPPAP) and CPPAP titles not included in the list and, second, the initial proposal for making these titles available;
- newsagents’ export of their data in a format that makes them reusable.
Arcep has granted France Messagerie the status of approved press distributor
The Arcep Decision published today, granting France Messagerie approved press distributor status, was taken with consideration to the provisions listed in the specifications, the information provided by France Messagerie and the commitments the company has made to guaranteeing the distribution of daily newspapers and periodicals.
[1] Pursuant to Article 12 of the Bichet Act based on Decree No. 2021-440 of 13 April 2021 establishing the specifications that apply to approved press distribution undertakings
[2] Set by Decree No. 2021-440 of 13 April 2021 establishing the specifications that apply to approved press distribution undertakings