The administrative court of Versailles suspended, Tuesday, August 24, a decree of the prefect of Yvelines making compulsory the health pass in shopping centers, on the grounds that it prevented access to essential goods to people who do not have them.
These restrictions “Applied generally and absolutely to all businesses located in department stores and shopping centers listed in the decree”, considers the court in its judgment, ” without any arrangements being made to allow customers who do not have a pass to access those of these businesses which sell basic goods and services ”.
Fourteen department stores and shopping centers are affected in the Yvelines by the prefectural decree, including the emblematic Vélizy 2, one of the largest in France. “We took into account the stores located in the living areas and not only those in shopping centers”, justified the Yvelines prefecture to Agence France-Presse (AFP), specifying “Examine the advisability of appealing the decision”.
Need for ‘access to sufficient choice’
At the beginning of the month of August, the government asked the prefects to impose the health pass for surfaces of more than 20,000 m² in the departments where the incidence rate of the epidemic exceeds 200 per 100,000 inhabitants over an area. week.
“The law is a bit vague, but when we look at what the Council of State or the Constitutional Council said, we must ensure that consumers have access to sufficient choice” in terms of food products and pharmacy, Jacques Creyssel, general delegate of the Federation of Commerce and Distribution, told AFP.
Regretting that “Some prefects went beyond”, he welcomed the decision of the administrative court. Besides, “There are a number of departments where the incidence rate is falling every day”, underlined Mr. Creyssel. “When we see the economic repercussions, we ask that the end of this obligation be automatic” when the incidence rate is below 200 per 100,000 inhabitants, he insisted.