#2026-524Decree on Port Security Governance Checks
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This decree updates the rules for appointing and checking senior managers of major French ports. It sets out who requests background checks before appointments to port management boards, what records may be reviewed, and when those checks must be renewed. The practical effect is mainly administrative. Port authorities, the maritime ports ministry, prefects, regional councils, and candidates for port executive roles will need to follow clearer appointment and security-screening procedures, including five-year renewable terms and defined replacement rules.
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Key Changes
- Clarifies who requests administrative background checks for proposed port management board appointments
- Allows checks of criminal record information and certain official personal-data systems, excluding identification files
- Sets five-year renewable terms and replacement rules for presidents and members of port management boards
Obligations
What this law requires
Before appointing a person as president of the management board of a major maritime port, the minister responsible for maritime ports must request the prior administrative security investigation required by Article L. 5312-9.
Before appointing a person as a member of the management board of a major maritime port, the departmental prefect must request the prior administrative security investigation required by Article L. 5312-9.
For candidates subject to the administrative investigation, the competent minister or prefect must request criminal record bulletin no. 2 from the national automated criminal records system, or the equivalent record from the candidate’s state of nationality for foreign nationals where applicable under international conventions.
For the administrative investigation, the competent minister or prefect must refer the matter to the competent investigation services, which may consult authorized automated personal-data files under Article 31 of Law No. 78-17, excluding identification files.
The administrative investigation required under Article L. 5312-9 must be renewed on the anniversary date of the appointment decision.