Push for Reform: Rheinland-Pfalz Chambers of Commerce and Municipal Associations Advocate for Modernized Retail Regulations

A powerful alliance of industry and trade chambers (IHK) and municipal umbrella organizations in Rheinland-Pfalz is jointly championing a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s shop opening laws. Their key demands center on enabling round-the-clock operation of fully automated, staff-free retail outlets and reducing bureaucratic hurdles associated with Sunday shopping. The coalition presented a formal position paper in Mainz outlining their proposals and pressing for legislative action.

The paper specifically calls for allowing fully automated sales areas, limited to a maximum of 400 square meters, to operate 24/7 throughout Rheinland-Pfalz. These outlets would be permitted to sell everyday necessities. The proposal also envisions the emergence of hybrid retail models, combining staffed service during conventional opening hours with unstaffed, automated operation outside those times.

Thomas Przybylla, Deputy Chairman of the Rhineland-Palatinate Association of Municipalities and Cities, and also mayor of the Weißenthurm association of municipalities near Koblenz, stressed the potential benefits of such changes for improving local supply in rural areas. He argued that hybrid and automated markets could become valuable community meeting points and contribute to greater equality in living standards across the state. Andreas Göbel, Managing Director of the Landkreistag (Association of Districts), echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of these modernized retail formats in supporting regional development.

Michael Mätzig, Managing Director of the Städtetag (Association of Cities), underscored that reforming the shop opening law represents a vital step toward strengthening city centers and local cores. He highlighted the transformative shifts occurring in the retail landscape and the need for updated regulations to reflect these changes. Jürgen Vogel, Chief Executive Officer of the IHK for the Palatinate, emphasized the intense competition within the retail sector, particularly from online retailers. He argued that the industry must be empowered to embrace innovation and adapt to evolving consumer demands.

A significant point of contention for the IHK working group and the municipal associations revolves around the existing regulations governing Sunday shopping. Currently, the approval of Sunday openings requires a specific occasion or event, such as a town festival. Vogel questioned the necessity of repeating the entire bureaucratic process each year when the underlying reason for the opening remains consistent.

The position paper suggests adopting the Thuringian model, where a Sunday opening is automatically approved if the same occasion has justified an opening in the preceding three years. This approach aims to streamline the approval process and provide greater certainty for retailers and event organizers.

Another concern highlighted by the IHK and the municipal associations pertains to the restrictions on Sunday shopping during the crucial pre-Christmas period. Under the current law, Sunday openings are generally prohibited on Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday, Remembrance Day, Totensonntag (Sunday before the first Advent), Advent Sundays in December, and Sundays coinciding with a public holiday.

The alliance is advocating for the possibility of allowing Sunday shopping on one of the first two Advent weekends in December. This change would provide retailers with valuable opportunities to boost sales during the peak holiday season.

Göbel from the Landkreistag emphasized that the proposals outlined in the position paper are not radical or revolutionary. He characterized them as a balanced compromise, reflecting the need to address the concerns of various stakeholders. Notably, the chambers of commerce and municipal associations are not seeking to alter the existing opening hours for staffed stores, which currently allow operation from Monday to Saturday, 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Responsibility for the shop opening law in Rheinland-Pfalz rests with the Ministry for Social Affairs, Labor, Health, and Demography, led by Dörte Schall (SPD). The law is primarily intended to protect the rights and interests of employees.

Vogel from the IHK for the Palatinate noted that the state government has thus far signaled a cautious approach to potential changes, particularly concerning the proposals related to Sunday shopping. He expressed concern about perceived skepticism regarding the need for reform. He urged the state government to take action, arguing that the current regulations are inconsistent and unfair. He questioned why gas stations are permitted to sell a wide range of goods on Sundays while other retailers face restrictions. The argument that it should not be allowable for only one type of store and not for others who were selling the same products.