Amidst strong domestic opposition to an EU deal with the Mercosur bloc, France is set to ban imports containing residues of EU-banned pesticides
France has announced that it will suspend imports of fruits containing residues of pesticides banned in the EU, a move likely to affect imports from South America.
According to French prime minister Sebastian Lecornu, a decree is set to be issued at the initiative of minister of agriculture Annie Genevard that will suspend imports of products containing residues of mancozeb, glufosinate, thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim.
Fruits affected include “avocados, mangoes, guavas, citrus, grapes and apples from South America and elsewhere”, Lecornu said, describing the move as “a first step” to protect the agricultural sector and consumers and to combat what he called “unfair competition”.
“Stricter controls will be carried out by a specialised team to ensure compliance with our health standards,” he stated.
The announcement came after a wave of protests from French farmers over the planned European trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc, a vote on which the French government has pushed to delay.
“Imports, regardless of from where they come in the world, must comply with our standards,” Genevard wrote on X. “France is setting an example in Europe by issuing this unprecedented decree that concerns more than a dozen food products.
“Melons, apples, apricots, cherries, strawberries, grapes, potatoes: they will only be on sale in France if they show no residue of these substances banned in our country. Other products from South America such as avocados, mangos, guavas, or certain citrus fruits from elsewhere will only be allowed in if they comply with our standards.”
