The government of France announced that it will suspend the importation of agricultural products treated with five fungicides and herbicides used in the processing of fruits and vegetables, particularly South American avocados, mangoes, or guavas, whose use is prohibited in the European Union for a maximum period of one year. This was indicated through a decree published this Wednesday in the Official Journal, accessed by the Argentine News Agency. The decree requires companies to carry out controls to guarantee that the products do not contain the prohibited substances, while also providing for a liquidation period for existing stocks of a maximum of one month from its entry into force. Specifically, these are the products mancozeb, used to treat avocados, mangoes, grapes, strawberries, melons, lettuces, and peppers; thiophanate-methyl (citrus fruits, apples, pears, quinces, medlars, citrus fruits, soybeans, or oats); glufosinate (potatoes); carbendazim; and benomyl (citrus fruits, apples, pears, medlars, apricots, peaches, grapes, mangoes, papayas, tomatoes, and some cereals). Meanwhile, the suspension affects, 'taking into account the profile of the products, especially South America, although it is not a decree aimed at South America, but at any country in the world that treats the fruits and vegetables in question with any of these five substances,' indicated the Ministry of Agriculture at the beginning of the week. According to international media, the measure still needs to obtain approval from Brussels, where French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard will attend a special meeting this Wednesday with European ministers on the trade agreement she is negotiating with the South American bloc Mercosur, made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, an agreement that France was one of the main detractors of.
