France has announced stricter controls on food imports as farmers continue to demonstrate against the EU-Mercosur deal with South American countries.
In an open letter published Sunday on X, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu declared it was “no longer acceptable” to tolerate banned substances in imported products entering the French market, calling it unfair competition and a health concern for consumers.
Lettre ouverte aux agriculteurs de France.@AnnieGenevard @SergePapin_rf @jnbarrot @AdeMontchalin @benjaminhaddad @N_Forissier pic.twitter.com/ft28jSygrD
— Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) January 4, 2026
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard confirmed that decrees would be issued this week to suspend imports from South American countries, including avocados and apples, containing residues of five substances already prohibited in Europe.
The restrictions will apply to over a dozen food items, covering fruits such as melons, apples, apricots, cherries, strawberries and grapes, as well as potatoes. Other South American products including guavas and certain citrus fruits will also face checks. The measures will also target imported meat that fails to meet EU standards.
“From wherever they come in the world, imported products must respect our standards,” Genevard wrote on X on January 4th, describing the measures as “unprecedented” in scope.
⚠️ J’ai pris la décision de suspendre l’entrée sur notre territoire des denrées alimentaires contenant des résidus de plusieurs substances interdites en Europe.
On ne peut pas accepter que des substances bannies chez nous réapparaissent indirectement par le biais des… https://t.co/aXYjyDbPK4
— Annie Genevard (@AnnieGenevard) January 4, 2026
The government has also instructed authorities to significantly increase import controls at borders and within the country. Lecornu highlighted a simple principle: “the same standards for everyone, the same controls for everyone.”
Broader support package for farmers
The import restrictions form part of wider measures to support French agriculture. Lecornu announced the government would triple funding for water infrastructure to help farmers adapt to climate change. Local officials have been asked to identify all blocked water projects, and the government may support new legislation on water access.
The prince minister also addressed the ongoing livestock disease outbreak, promising adapted measures for contagious nodular dermatosis and support for exporting vaccinated cattle. He guaranteed that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy budget would not be cut.
French farmers have been protesting for weeks over the proposed trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur bloc, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. They argue the deal would allow cheap imports, particularly beef, that do not meet EU environmental and food safety standards.
In his letter, Lecornu acknowledged farmers’ sense of “profound injustice” and promised the government would end double standards.
While Germany and Spain support the Mercosur deal, France now seems to be its strongest opponent. Lecornu called on the European Commission to extend these import controls across the entire European market, adding: “In the meantime, we take responsibility for acting now.
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Main photo credit: Stefan, Pexels