Isn’t it always the same? When everyone’s back is turned and we’re off celebrating Christmas, the authorities decide to make important decisions. I believe in England your politicians call it “burying bad news”. But surely the French government couldn’t be following the same, grubby guidelines?

Of course, this could never be true, but the long-awaited decree that precedes the implementation of a new law for the wholesale markets in France was announced during the holidays. The breath had been baited in the offices of the country’s market authorities and tenants alike, especially at Lyon market. While at least they have now been allowed to exhale, many of them are still choking.

The decision has far-reaching implications for the Lyonnaise, who face a transfer from the historical Perrache settlement to the Corbas zone, which is outside of the former capital of Gaul. While this is set in stone, what is less certain is the future status of the new market. It is no secret that the Lyon community is not prepared to see a new national-interest market on its soil - those traders that want to stay will be forced to act to protect their interests.

There is another controversial point in the law that has caused great consternation amongst wholesale professionals throughout the country. French law has traditionally been supposed to protect the markets from a degree of competition that is considered too harsh, particularly in view of the French markets’ prominent position as a supplier to the inner city retail sectors.

A company wishing to establish itself within the reference perimeter around each market would in the past have been obliged to ask for derogation from the protective ruling. What’s more, a law passed as recently as the Spring of 2004 enforced this.

However, the new decree has changed things completely, and virtually anyone who is prepared to invest the time and money can now legally compete with the market in the previously forbidden zone, thus profiting, say traders, from the flow of trade that has been generated by existing traders.

To this end, wholesale markets feel they’ve been taken in by their government and, although this may seem like a strong term, some would go as far as saying they have been deceived.

Happily there are some positive points to be taken from this decree: most prominent is the fact that it confirms there will be greater opportunity for markets to be private entities, which should introduce more flexibility into the financial and administrative aspects of running a market.

Maybe the combination of good and bad could assist French markets in facing competition with more confidence and serenity.