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French wholesaler sentenced for mislabeling imported fruits as French produce
A wholesaler in Dordogne, France, has been handed a one-year suspended sentence and a €50,000 fine for falsely labeling imported fruits as French products. The fruits, primarily sourced from Morocco, Portugal, and the Netherlands, included raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, chestnuts, and kiwis, which were sold as French between 2020 and 2021.
The fraudulent activity, involving 412 tons of mislabeled goods, was uncovered by a consumer fraud watchdog and prosecuted by the criminal court. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control stated the wholesaler falsified country-of-origin labeling, misleading consumers and breaching trade regulations.
The mislabeled shipments are estimated to represent 5% of France’s annual red fruit production, with revenue exceeding €1.5 million. The case was initially brought to public attention in 2022 through a report by the French investigative program Zone Interdite, aired on M6.
This incident highlights the importance of transparent trade practices, particularly as Morocco remains a key agricultural partner for the European Union. In 2024, trade between Morocco and the EU reached €60 billion, with agricultural exchanges hitting a record €7 billion. Morocco also held the position of the EU's leading vegetable supplier, exporting over 1 million tons and generating €1.7 billion in revenue.
The case underscores the need for vigilance in supply chain management to ensure compliance with labeling regulations and uphold consumer trust.
