By decree, the French government set a minimum of 3 euros for shipping costs for books purchased on Amazon and other digital platforms, a measure that seeks to protect traditional bookstores, hard hit around the world by facing certain “unfair competition”. of the online market.
The measure, established by a presidential decree signed by French President Emmanuel Macron was published yesterday in the official gazette, will enter into force on October 7, and follows the recommendations of the Electronic Communication, Postal and Press Distribution Regulation Authority. (Arcep), which already in April 2022 had proposed a minimum rate of 3 euros in shipping costs for all orders below 35 euros.
The decree does not affect, however, orders greater than or equal to 35 euros, for which the minimum price of the tax will only be 0.01 euros.
In this way, the Government seeks to encourage purchases in small bookstores, which in France make up one of the densest networks in the world, according to the French news agency AFP.
According to government estimates, there are around 3,500 in the country and they sell about half of the books sold in France.
Various market studies in France, but which have a similar correlation in other countries, show that these businesses cannot compete with the distribution prices offered by digital platforms and Amazon in particular, which monopolizes a large part of the market.
In France, the price of the book is fixed.
For this reason, the French Bookstore Union (SLF), which brings together about a third of the country’s independent bookstores, began to request a minimum rate of 4.5 euros, higher than the one finally approved by the Government.
The Executive justifies in the text of the decree its decision of the 3 euros for the increase in inflation in the country, as well as to respect European free market regulations.
“This measure constitutes a first step to rebalance competition between retailers in the online book sales market,” the SLF said in a statement, although it criticized the “almost free” order for orders over 35 euros and asked for a fee advantageous postcard that helps “make bookstores truly competitive.”
The decree is part of the cultural policy known as the “Darcos Law” of December 30, 2021 on the book market. In turn, it was an update of another 1981 law, which has already undergone several modifications motivated by the growing weight of electronic commerce and, in particular, after the arrival of Amazon.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
