Why this new code?

Ordinance No. 2023-208 of 28 March 2023, adopted pursuant to Article 8 of the Law of 14 February 2022 in favor of self-employed professional activity, aims to improve the clarity of the law for professionals in the trades and crafts sector. It therefore introduces the 1^er july 2023 a new craft code that will make it possible to “identify the texts applicable to their activities and to the control thereof”.

Until now, legislation on craft industries has been scattered between the 1952 craft industry code, which was partly repealed and relatively old, and non-codified legislation. This development therefore makes it possible to bring all the texts relating to craft industries into line.

The regulatory portion of the order will be the subject of an implementing order to be issued shortly.

A new craft code divided into 5 books

In order to facilitate comprehension of the texts, this new craft code is divided into five books distinguishing the activities, persons and institutions in the trades and crafts sector:

• the Book I is devoted to the activities of the trades and crafts sector and the conditions for their exercise. This book shall include, in particular, the rules on registration in the national register of companies (RNE) or the conditions governing the pursuit of craft activities;
• the Book II relates to persons in the trades and crafts sector. It lists the craft professions and specifies the use of the word ‘craftsman’, ‘baker’ or ‘homemade’, for example;
• the Book III relates to the organization and remit of the regional chambers of crafts and crafts and of CMA France;
• the Book IV will, on the occasion of a subsequent codification, accept the provisions relating to the local law of Alsace-Moselle, which constitutes a specific right;
• the Pound V concerns the special provisions relating to overseas territory.