France: France Re-instates Ban on U.S. Cherry Imports
On April 27, 2017 France published a decree banning cherry imports from countries where the use of the chemical dimethoate is legal. As a result, U.S. cherry exports to France will be prohibited in 2017 as they were in 2016. The action will also create competitor opportunities in other EU markets, as the French cherry crop is likely to be smaller and more expensive due to the ban on the use of dimethoate. Fruit importers and traders fear that France may one day implement similar domestic bans against other EU-approved pesticides or chemicals, de-facto shutting down the free movement of EU and third-country fruits and vegetables into France.
