Imports of banned substances, CBAM, water management: Sébastien Lecornu's announcements to French farmers

"We will no longer tolerate the presence of substances banned in France in imported products entering our market: this is unfair competition, an economic injustice and a problem for the health of our consumers. Orders will be issued by the Government this week to suspend imports of foodstuffs from South American countries such as avocados or apples containing residues of five substances that are already banned in Europe", announced Sébastien Lecornu, French Prime Minister, in an open letter to farmers dated 04/01/2026.

On the social network X, Sébastien Lecornu refers to imports of products containing mancozeb, glufosinate, thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim.

This letter follows demonstrations by farmers, mainly in the south-west, opposing the national strategy put in place to combat the spread of DNC and the possible signing of the free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries, now announced for 12/01/2026.

In his letter, Sébastien Lecornu states in particular that he wants to "abolish or adapt rules that penalise our agriculture, without always effectively…