Jean-Luc Boujon, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: BENJAMIN POLGE / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 3:28 p.m., February 6, 2024

Faced with the anger of farmers, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire announced the doubling of controls to verify the origin of the products on the shelves in supermarkets as well as on the markets. For the occasion, Europe 1 went to Lyon where investigators from the DGCCRF stopped at Place Guichard. 

Five days after the lifting of the blockades, farmers remain attentive to the implementation of the government's announcements. Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, notably announced the doubling of controls to verify the origin of products on the shelves in supermarkets, but also in the markets. This Tuesday morning, investigators from the Fraud Repression made a stopover at the Place Guichard market, in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon.

Doubled checks in 2024

Checks are increasing, particularly on the stalls of this fruit and vegetable merchant. “Hello, we are going to check the consumer’s information, prices, origins, etc.,” an inspector announces to the merchant. On his stall, no foreign fruits and vegetables labeled as French products. But, despite everything, several shortcomings are observed. “There are still several origins which are missing in terms of its displays. At least a third is missing. These are fifth class fines, 1,500 euros per product,” explains an inspector from the Fraud Repression. 

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David, the merchant in question, pleads good faith, but is not happy with the fine. "We'll pay. If I make a mistake, I'll only do it once at that price. But as I tell you, it's complicated to manage everything when we arrive when we're all alone. We have a lot of people present at 7:15 a.m. and who rush you. We don't have much time, we quickly put the slates up so that customers can see the prices, it's very complicated", he laments on the microphone of Europe 1 .

Last year, 186 checks were carried out in the Rhône department. But their number will double this year, says Vanina Nicoli, secretary general of the prefecture. “What we are going to do is that we are going to intensify. There is the need to go even further and to be able to track down unfair, even fraudulent behavior,” she underlines. The objective, brought to light by the peasants' revolt in recent days, is to better protect French agricultural products.