France will suspend the import of agricultural products from South America that contain residues of substances banned in the European Union. The announcement was made this Sunday (4) by French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, in a message published on the social network X.
According to Lecornu, an ordinance will be published in the coming days, on the initiative of the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, to bar the entry of products that contain residues of mancozeb, glufosinate, methyl thiophanate and carbendazim — agricultural pesticides whose use is prohibited by European health standards.
Among the affected items are avocados, mangoes, guavas, citrus fruits, grapes and apples from South America or any other region. According to the Prime Minister, inspection will be reinforced by a specialized brigade, with the aim of ensuring strict compliance with French health legislation.
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Pressure from farmers
Lecornu classified the decision as “the first step” to protect national production chains and French consumers, in addition to combating what he called unfair competition. According to him, the measure seeks to guarantee justice and equity for local farmers, who follow stricter production rules.
The announcement comes amid blockades and protests organized by French farmers since December, motivated both by the government’s conduct in combating contagious nodular dermatosis (NCD) in cattle herds and by opposition to the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur.
The treaty with the South American bloc — formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — has not yet been officially signed and faces resistance in several European countries. According to Reuters, the European Commission even discussed the inclusion of safeguard clauses for sensitive products, such as beef, and the body’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, reported on December 18 that the signing of the agreement was postponed until January, due to political and social pressure.
