Locations, extensions, transfers of existing businesses and changes in the sector of activity of commercial and craft businesses must meet the requirements of regional planning, environmental protection and the quality of town planning. In particular, they must contribute to maintaining activities in rural and mountain areas and to rebalancing conurbations through the development of activities in town centres and urban regeneration areas.
Within the framework of fair competition, they must also contribute to the modernisation of commercial facilities, their adaptation to changing consumption patterns and marketing techniques, consumer purchasing comfort and the improvement of employees’ working conditions.