New rules for open air markets

The new regime has to do with six changes that are being put to public debate through this week, and will become law before April's end.

1. the places of stalls will be determined through a public drawing of lots.

2. new product lines will be available for retail, like traditional pasta, and cured meats. Vendors will also have the possibility of selling more than one product type.

3. There will be a distinct spatial differentiation between producers and simple retailers.

4. All categories of infringements will be dealt with much more strictly, carrying with them prison sentences in some cases.

5.The whole corpus of laws and regulations for selling in open air establishments is regulated and reformed, and is rewritten into just 15 articles.

6. An electronic database is formed on the basis of which municipalities and regional governments and all bodies issuing licenses for such activities are obliged to log certain information.

So far spot checks on outdoor markets have intensified with 131,000 being conducted in 2013. In October of 2014 all licenses will be reevaluated. Priority for licensing will be given to the unemployed, and of those preferential treatment is reserved for invalids, multi member household, and Roma.