French Departments Lead Local Boycotts Against South American Products Over Mercosur Agreement

Two French departments, Loiret and Côte d'Or, have initiated boycotts of South American imports in their school cafeterias as a direct protest against the European Union's approval of the Mercosur trade agreement. This controversial deal has faced criticism from local farmers and officials due to concerns over economic, health, environmental, and social risks stemming from differing agricultural standards between the EU and Mercosur countries.

Loiret's council president, Marc Gaudet, confirmed that approximately 3 million meals are served annually across 68 colleges in his department. In an effort to support local agriculture and promote food sovereignty, they have decided to exclude products such as avocados, pineapples, and meats sourced from South America. Gaudet acknowledged that logistical challenges remain, especially as many processed foods do not clearly disclose their origins, estimating that about 10% of products in school cafeterias will be affected.

Following Loiret, Côte d'Or’s president François Sauvadet expressed a similar commitment toward local sourcing. Côte d'Or aims to achieve an 80% local sourcing target by 2027, aligning with the 2022 Egalim law requiring at least 50% sustainable and quality products in school meals, including 20% organic food. Both departments intend to raise awareness about food sovereignty and hope to influence other public sectors to adopt comparable measures.

While regional France pushes back against Mercosur through product boycotts, the European Parliament has also taken legal action, recently referring the agreement to the Court of Justice, underscoring ongoing controversies at multiple levels.

These local and European moves highlight the persistent tensions surrounding Mercosur’s impact on agriculture and trade standards. Departments like Loiret and Côte d'Or are positioning themselves as frontrunners in defending local agriculture and food quality in the face of international trade pressures.