The liquidation of the National Institute for Consumer Affairs is official, 60 million consumers looking for a buyer

The Official Journal published a decree on Sunday, March 29, setting out the terms for the liquidation of the National Consumer Institute (INC) following its dissolution, and the search for a buyer for the magazine 60 millions de consommateurs. The 2026 Finance Act envisioned the liquidation of the INC by the end of March and the possible sale of its popular monthly magazine, 60 millions de consommateurs, to a private entity due to financial difficulties.

This decree from the Ministry of Commerce appoints a liquidator, for a period of nine months from March 31, 2026, who must “ensure the continuity of the press activity of the establishment for the necessary time to find a private buyer for this activity”. The decree allows a three-month period from the start of liquidation to find a buyer, which can be extended if necessary. If the liquidator determines that the sale of the press activity is not possible, they are tasked with “ending this activity”, with the assets being sold separately as part of the liquidation process.

SNME CFDT union leader Lionel Maugain, a journalist at 60 millions de consommateurs, expressed concern on Sunday morning about the lack of mention of the fate of the approximately 60 employees in this decree, as well as criteria for the takeover of the magazine. “It is necessary to ensure the independence of the publication at the legal and editorial levels, to prevent it from becoming an opinion platform”, he stated.

The Ministry of Commerce reiterated that the decree “marks the closure of the INC”, while highlighting “extreme attention” to the process of taking over the magazine 60 millions de consommateurs, which it “values”. According to the ministry, “the choice of the buyer will be made in the interest of the publication”, and they are ready to work on offers from private entities, existing associations and media, or on a buyout by the magazine’s employees.

In December, around a hundred journalists, readers, and scientists had denounced the “death sentence” of 60 millions de consommateurs, in a column published in Le Monde. The liquidation of the Institute, founded in 1966 and transformed into a public industrial and commercial entity in 1990, is estimated to cost 8 million euros according to the government. The SNME CFDT union, however, mentions a cost of “11 million” euros. In 2024, the INC had a deficit of 719,000 euros with a turnover of 11.6 million euros, according to Lionel Maugain. But the INC returned to profit in 2025, with a profit of 236,000 euros on a turnover of 11.9 million euros, according to the same source.