The French government has confirmed industry warnings that supermarkets in France sold Ukrainian eggs containing antibiotic residues that are prohibited in the EU, and is pressing Brussels to tighten border controls.
French retail giants Carrefour and Leclerc sold hundreds of thousands of such eggs, the National Committee for the Promotion of Eggs (CNPO), which represents farmers, processors and retailers, said in a statement on Thursday.
The group warned of “a significant health risk to consumers”, stating that the eggs “may contain substances that are banned in Europe,” such as antibiotic residues, and urging public authorities to “immediately step up health compliance checks” on these products.
The CNPO also raised concerns about unfair competition, arguing that the Ukrainian eggs “do not comply with the same health standards” or “animal welfare practices” applied in France.
France turns to Brussels
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard confirmed the reports, telling journalists on Friday that “European checks this summer revealed the presence of antibiotics banned in Europe in eggs from Ukraine.”
She also criticised supermarkets for failing to prioritise “French production over imports of foodstuffs that do not meet our standards,” saying it “poses an ethical problem for me”.
Genevard called for the creation of a “European control agency” to strengthen controls and reinforce compliance checks, and demanded that “for any practice banned in Europe, a maximum residue limit for these practices [be] set at zero on all imported products”.
An ‘isolated case’
Leclerc acknowledged the breach, but insisted it was an isolated incident.
“One store took an unfortunate initiative. This is an isolated case, which in no way reflects the brand’s purchasing policy,” a spokesperson told Euractiv.
The retailer says it has already taken corrective action and reaffirmed its commitment to sourcing French products.
“We asked the store to immediately pull the batches from sale” and “will remain a key player in the French egg production sector,” the spokesperson added.
Other supermarket chains distanced themselves: Lidl said it may source eggs from other EU countries during shortages, “but not from Ukraine”.
The controversy comes against a backdrop of tensions within the CNPO, after major retailers quit the organisation in early July over governance disputes.
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