Unpacking is the sale or repurchase of goods in premises or locations not for sale to the public.

The sale by unpacking can be carried out in following locations :

• Locations located on public roads or public property, without a title of occupation, intended for the long-term pursuit of a commercial or craft activity (e.g. stations, sidewalks)
• All spaces not included in the area intended for sale within a commercial establishment (e.g. parking or shopping mall)
• Retirement homes
• Premises or locations whose assignment to a commercial or craft activity is not mentioned in the Trade and business Register (RCS) or the National Register of companies (RNE) (e.g. hotel lobby or meeting room)
• Vehicles specially adapted for the sale of goods to the public.

The mayor may prohibit the organization of an unpacking sale on certain locations if this is justified by a reason forpublic order (e.g. area particularly exposed to flood risks).

Unpacking sales concern new and/or used goods and food products in their unprocessed state.

Since the May 28, 2026, the organizer of an unpacking sale is no longer obliged to make a prior declaration to the mayor of the municipality concerned.

The organizer of an unpacking sale may authorize the participation of the following persons:

• Professional registered in the Trade and business Register (RCS) or the National company Register (RNE): individual entrepreneurs (EI) or businesses
• Individuals : they must sell only personal and used items. They can only participate in 2 sales per year.

In case of sale of used furniture, the organizer of the sale must keep, day by day, a register allowing the identification of the objects sold (characteristic, provenance) and the sellers. The register must conform to a mandatory template.

Register of identification of sellers of used movable objects (Annexes I and II)

Before the demonstration, the register is marked and initialed by the police commissioner (or by the mayor).

Throughout the event, this register must be made available to the police and gendarmerie, tax and customs services, as well as to the competition, consumer and fraud enforcement services.

At the latest in the 8 days delay after the unpacking sale, the register must be dropped at the prefecture or sub-prefecture of the venue of the event.

The organizer of the sale who does not respect the keeping of a register or refuses to present it to the administrative authorities is punished by 6 months imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.

An unpacking sale cannot exceed 2 months per year in the same premises or on the same location or in the same district in large cities. This period may be split or continue.

In case of exceeding the duration of the sale, the mayor must inform the organizer declaring the sanctions incurred at least 8 days before the sale begins.

The limitation of the duration of the sale does not concern the following persons:

• Professionals with proof of road permission or a parking permit for sales made on the public highway
• Professionals on sales tours
• Professionals conducting public auctions
• Organizers of trade events held in an exhibition park
• Organizers of fairgrounds and agricultural events when only producers or breeders are exhibiting
• Fruit and vegetable sellers, when the sale is made in times of economic crisis.