The “Bichet Act” [1] entrusts the print media industry’s interprofessional organisation with the task of establishing rules governing press title assortment, and determining the quantities displayed at points of sale (PoS) for publications registered with and recognised by France’s Joint Commission for Press Publications and Agencies* (CPPAP [2]) but which are not political or general news publications. Negotiations held in December 2020 and April 2021 failed to achieve broad enough consensus amongst the sector’s stakeholders for a an agreement to be ratified. In the meantime, Arcep held two public consultations: one on assortment rules and another on the rules to determine PoS copy numbers. In early July, the companies involved submitted a copy of their agreement to Arcep, which must now issue a public opinion on the agreement’s compliance with Bichet Act stipulations. This then is the backdrop for this new consultation with the sector’s players.
Interprofessional agreement on press title assortment rules and rules to determine the number of copies distributed to points of sale, submitted to Arcep in early July 2021
This text, called the “interprofessional assortment and cap agreement” was signed by the Alliance of general news publications (APIG), Culture Presse, the National federation of specialised press publications (FNPS), the Magazine publishers’ union (SEPM), France Messagerie, MLP, the National newsagents union (SNDP), the Union of press kiosks and bookshops of Paris Ile de France (SKLP), the National booksellers and press union (SNLP), Lagardère Travel Retail France and MédiaKiosk – JCDecaux France.
Today Arcep is publishing this interprofessional agreement for consultation, to obtain feedback from the sector before issuing its opinion.
Arcep invites all interested stakeholders to forward their comments and contributions by 30 September 2021.
* Press titles recognised by France’s Joint Commission for Press Publications and Agencies (CPPAP) but which are not political or general news publications (IPG)
[1] Amended Act No. 47-585
[2] CPPAP: Commission Paritaire des Publications et des Agences de Presse/Joint Commission for Press Publications and Agencies
Associated documents:
• Interprofessional “assortment and cap” agreement submitted to Arcep