The National Health Security Agency (ANSES) again authorized Thursday the marketing of an insecticide (phosphine) used in direct fumigation of cereal cargoes, raising concerns about exports to Africa. The use of the insecticide PH3, or phosphine, intended to eliminate insects by fumigation in direct contact with cereals in the holds of ships, may be used in accordance with a European regulation for products exported outside the EU “when it has been satisfactorily demonstrated that the third country of destination requires or accepts this particular treatment in order to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms into its territory”, according to a decision by the Agency.
The marketing authorization (AMM) requested by the Dutch manufacturer UPL Holdings Coöperatief U.A., which markets PH3, is “renewed in France, integrating the new composition of the authorized product in the conclusions of the evaluation”. “This decision replaces the decision of October 26, 2022”, specifies the public agency.
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In this decision of October 26, ANSES had restricted the field of application of phosphine, only authorizing fumigation by indirect contact with cereals, for example by placing the phosphine tablet in an envelope or box with holes. This decision, which was to apply from April 25, de facto jeopardized French cereal exports to Africa, where several countries such as Morocco, Egypt or Togo, require in their specifications a fumigation by direct contact.
Faced with the deep concern of cereal producers and traders, the government had assured that France, which had become the world’s 4th largest wheat exporter thanks to the war in Ukraine, would continue to send its wheat to its African customers, in the name of food security. . “France will continue to export cereals”, said the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau on April 11, indicating that he would rely on “European law which allows derogation from the ban (…) at the request of importing countries.
