NACE 47.6 – Retail Sale of Cultural and Recreation Goods in Specialised Stores | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 47.6 covers the in-store retail sale of goods for leisure, sport and play — including sports equipment, bicycles, toys, books, newspapers, stationery as well as music and video products. In public procurement, this group is relevant for the fitting out of schools, sports facilities, libraries and cultural institutions.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 47.6 cover?

NACE 47.6 (Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores) classifies retailers of sports, play and cultural goods — a segment with a broad range of applications in public procurement, from school equipment through to municipal sports supplies.

Group 47.6 within Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and Division 47 (Retail trade) is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 47.6 are primarily schools and educational institutions, municipal sports operators and sports departments, libraries, cultural institutions, youth centres and local authorities with leisure infrastructure.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 47.6

Leisure articles, sports equipment and teaching materials are recurring procurement items for public institutions — particularly in the education and social services sector and in the fitting out of municipal sports and leisure facilities.

Typical types of contract

• Sports equipment and fitness equipment: Procurement of training equipment, sports mats, ball-game equipment and fitness machines for municipal sports centres, school sports halls and open-air pools
• School sports equipment: Gym apparatus, playground swings and outdoor sports installations for school yards and kindergartens
• Bicycles and two-wheelers: Service bicycles for municipal staff, fleet bicycles for public sharing schemes
• Toys and learning materials: Educational toys, learning games and outdoor play equipment for day-care facilities and kindergartens
• Books and media for libraries: Book deliveries for public libraries, school libraries and media centres
• Stationery and school supplies: Framework agreements for office and writing materials for schools and public administrations

Thresholds and procedure types

Supply contracts under NACE 47.6 reach the EU threshold (EUR 221,000 for central government authorities, EUR 443,000 for other contracting authorities, as of 2024/2025) typically when larger framework agreements for school book supply or sports equipment are tendered at regional or federal level. Below these thresholds, national procedures apply.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 47.6

CPV codes link the statistical NACE classification to specific contract notices and are the primary research tool for bidders on TED and on national platforms.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms.

For whom is NACE 47.6 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Schools and education providers are the most significant contracting authorities for books, stationery and learning materials — in many federal states, school book deliveries are tendered centrally at regional or school authority level. Municipal sports operators and sports departments continuously procure equipment for halls, open-air pools and outdoor facilities. Public libraries conclude supply contracts for book stock. Day-care facilities and youth institutions regularly need educational toys and leisure equipment.

Companies and bidders

Retailers and wholesalers in the leisure and sports sector typically have to provide the following evidence to participate in public tenders:

• Trade authorisation: Trade or bookselling registration, relevant authorisations
• Technical capacity: References on comparable supply contracts, logistics capacity (delivery times, warehousing)
• Economic capacity: Annual turnover, insurance certificates
• Product safety: CE marking and EN standards for toys (EN 71) and sports equipment, REACH compliance

Bookshops can benefit in library tenders from experience in institutional bookselling and collection building. For sports equipment, assembly and service work is often part of the contract.

NACE 47.6 in context: Section G and Division 47

NACE 47.6 forms part of Division 47 (Retail trade) within trade Section G and is closely linked to public investment in education, sport and culture.

• NACE G – Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles: Parent section covering all trading activities
• NACE 47 – Retail trade: Division covering all in-store and non-store retail trade
• NACE 47.5 – Retail sale of other household equipment: Electrical appliances, textiles, DIY goods
• NACE 47.7 – Retail sale of other goods in specialised stores: Clothing, pharmacies, optics

Frequently asked questions about NACE 47.6 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 47.6?
In-store retailers whose turnover focuses on sports, play and cultural goods: bookshops, specialist sports shops, bicycle retailers, toy shops and stationery shops. Book wholesalers specialising in public libraries may also be classified here.

How do I find current tenders for sports equipment and toys?
EU-wide notices are available on TED via CPV search (e.g. 37400000 for sports goods, 37520000 for toys). For national and municipal tenders, the relevant regional platforms and municipal procurement portals are recommended.

What safety requirements apply to toys and sports equipment?
Toys must comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) and the EN 71 series of standards and must bear the CE marking. Sports equipment for public playgrounds is subject to EN 1176. In tenders, these requirements are typically set as minimum requirements in the technical specifications.

Can sports clubs act as bidders?
No — public contracts are awarded to economic operators within the meaning of public procurement law. However, sports clubs as non-profit organisations may act as contracting authorities if they are publicly funded and exceed the public procurement thresholds.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.