French local authorities will get at least 50% of the sums collected for the tax on polluting activities

The Finance Act 2011, adopted definitively by the French parliament in December 2010, introduces a new allocation for the tax on polluting activities (TGAP) on building materials.At least 50% of the sums collected through the tax will be paid to local authorities (the towns near which quarries are installed) to help them finance environment protection actions and local road maintenance.Towns exposed to "risks and disadvantages" generated by the extraction activity should receive the remaining money.The professional unions 1613 UNPG (aggregates) and 1850 Unicem (building materials), which agree with the new scheme, will contribute to its enforcement due to take place on 1 January, 2012.