In the interests of administrative simplification, the Bill provides for the deletion of Chapter 6 of the Law of 2 September 2011, headed "Large-scale retail stores" (grandes surfaces) so that the setting-up, expansion, takeover, transfer or change of main commercial division(s) of a sales area exceeding 400 sqm will no longer require a specific authorization from the Ministry of Economy.

The Bill highlights that the current time-consuming authorisation process is just duplicating the existing instruments - mainly land use and urban planning - both on national and local level.

We'll keep you posted on the next important step(s) of the legislative process.