France applies a similar policy for new books.
Such restrictions are in fact in place to supposedly protect small book shops from large ones or supermarkets.
The reasoning is that large book store chains and supermarkets have enough financial resources and incentive to either muscle the publishers or dump their margins to offer books at a reduced price; an option not existing for small book stores who barely make a living if they try to have a logistic tied neither to publishers or professional associations.

The real effect is to force book store owner to lose their independence if they plan on making any profit at all and doesn't prevent some chains to drop prices on the guise of "compensating" for VAT on new cultural products as it seems tolerated and they have the financial capacity to pay the eventual fines without having to think twice about this policy.