The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has informed operators in the agri-food sector of the new measures adopted by the French authorities regarding food safety.
The emergency measure applies to fresh and processed products coming from outside the Community. The list includes apples, pears, quince, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, blackcurrants, strawberries, tomatoes, eggplants, Brussels sprouts, beans, peas, mushrooms, potatoes, peppers, melons, lettuce, soybeans, barley, oats, rye, wheat, honey and other bee products. Their imports will be restricted if residues of carbendazim (including in mixture with benomyl), thiophanate methyl, glufosinate or mancozeb are detected.
The decision is based on a French government order issued in early 2026 to protect public health and sent for notification to the World Trade Organization on January 9.
While policies on maximum permissible residue levels are usually coordinated at EU level, Community law allows Member States to take exceptional national measures if a serious risk to consumers is identified. The new rules apply exclusively to goods entering the French market and do not affect trade with other EU Member States.
At the same time, the active substances mentioned in the notification of the French authorities were previously excluded from the State Register of Plant Protection Products and Fertilizers of the Republic of Moldova in accordance with the decisions of the Interdepartmental Republican Council. The implementation and use dates were as follows: until 2017 for carbendazim (including mixture with benomyl), September 20, 2020 for glufosinate, October 30, 2022 for thiophanate methyl and August 31, 2022 for mancozeb.
The Ministry therefore recommends that exporters and traders intending to supply the French market verify their compliance with the requirements with the utmost diligence, including by testing for residues of prohibited active substances. Careful monitoring of the supply chain is essential to prevent border blockages or product recalls once the measure enters into force in February 2026.
The measure applies to both fresh and processed products, and the maximum permissible limits are set at the level of quantification by laboratory methods.
