France has decided to ban the import of fresh fruit and vegetables treated with the insecticide thiacloprid, banned in the EU, the agriculture ministry announced on Friday, fulfilling a promise made to angry farmers, AFP reported.

“As the European Union has not yet taken any measures to limit the entry of such products into Europe, in the meantime the government has decided, in order to protect consumers, to suspend the introduction, import and placing on the market of fresh vegetables and fruits from third countries, where they have been processed, by a ministerial order of February 23 thiacloprid,” the ministry said in a statement.

An active substance from the neonicotinoid family, “the use of which has been banned in France since September 2018 and in the European Union since February 2021, (…) continues to be used in other parts of the world to protect crops against certain insects.” , – he noted the minister.

“By purchasing and consuming fresh fruit and vegetables from these countries that have been treated with thiacloprid, consumers are exposed to this substance, which the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) considers a category 2 carcinogen, toxic for reproduction (category 1B) and endocrine disruptor,” – continues the administration.

Among some sixty measures aimed at calming the anger of French farmers, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal pledged on February 1 to prevent this type of importation.

“We will fight product by product to adhere to the simple principle: if it is prohibited for our farmers, it should not enter our country (…) This puts our farmers at a disadvantage. They no longer protect the French, because products treated with thiacloprid end up on the shelves,” the head of government said.

The order “obliges operators to ensure that imported fresh fruit and vegetables do not contain thiacloprid residues: throughout the chain of import, processing and marketing of these products, French operators must take measures to control the risk of introduction of products containing thiacloprid, which can be quantified . remains,” the ministry reports.

The text, “adopted for one year, will cease to have effect” as soon as the European Commission complies with France’s request to lower the “maximum residue limits” (MRL) of thiacloprid that can be detected in foodstuffs entering European territory. .

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