February 23, 2022

France bans meat imports treated with growth antibiotics

France has announced that it will ban all meat imports from animals treated with growth antibiotics from April 22, 2022, in a move that will largely affect the poultry market, Reuters reported.

The practice that has been banned in farming in the European Union (EU) since 2006. The measure was planned to be enforced last month but was postponed due to missing legislation on sanitary checks, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Professionals have two months to get an assurance from suppliers that the meat obtained does not come from breeding using growth antibiotics and must change their supply chain if required.

A French farm ministry official said the poultry sector will be most affected by the ban.

French poultry industry group Anvol said 45% of chicken consumed in the country was imported from both both EU and non-EU nations.

The EU imports chicken predominately from Brazil, Thailand, and Ukraine.

Anvol said it supports the government's ban but noted that enforcement will only be effective when it is implement throughout the EU as a lot of imports transit through Rotterdam port, the Netherlands.

-      Reuters