The decree proposed by the French government on the suspension of food imports from third countries “contravenes European rules”, according to the French Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Importers
The French Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Importers (CSIF) has expressed its surprise at the decree published by the French government on 7 January concerning the suspension of imports of fruit and vegetables containing residues of pesticides banned in the EU.
According to the CSIF, the measure was taken without any consultation and “contravenes European rules on both the free movement of goods and health regulations”.
The CSIF questioned the urgency – “or even haste” – with which the provision was taken. “Indeed, European rules concerning these products have been determined by the EFSA in order to protect consumer health and have been in place for several years,” it said.
It argued that companies importing fresh fruit and vegetables and their producer partners are “fully committed to certified quality control procedures, as products from third countries must comply with EU rules in order to be marketed there”.
The decree directly affects 56 per cent of the volume of fresh fruit and vegetables from third countries, according to the CSIF, representing approximately a fifth of total fresh fruit and vegetable consumption in France.
The CSIF stressed that such imports were a complement to French production. “They ensure the diversity and continuity of the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables available to consumers,” it stated. “In this regard, the CSIF regrets the discredit thus cast, beyond the importing profession, on a significant part of the range of fresh fruit and vegetables available to consumers.
The CSIF said the vagueness of the decree was already disrupting supply chains and questioned the extent of the measure in relation to the reality of a potential risk.
“The CSIF cannot help but draw a parallel between the announcement of this measure and the general context of crisis affecting the French agricultural sector,” it stated. “The CSIF also notes that several French production organisations believe that this measure does not solve the very real difficulties they face. The CSIF agrees with the position expressed by its French production counterparts in favour of harmonised production and marketing rules at EU level, without national provisions penalising French operators.”
Philippe Pons, president of the CSIF, commented: “Our members and their producer partners did not wait for the French government to produce and import fruit and vegetables that comply fully with legislation, and even exceed it, through multiple agronomic, social and environmental certifications. In a turbulent agricultural context, the effect sought by this decree misses its target: not only does it in no way benefit French producers, and may even put them in difficulty on their export markets, but it also unnecessarily penalises French importers who are virtuously involved in broadening consumer choice.”
