French Customs Seize 30 Tons of Moroccan Olives Containing Banned Preservative

The case began with information received at the beginning of the year. The DNRED then discovered that several Moroccan companies were exporting non-compliant olives to Europe. The investigation led the customs officers to a Parisian wholesaler who was regularly supplied by a Moroccan supplier. The olives, packaged in 12-kilo jars, were intended for the Île-de-France markets.

Samples were taken in Le Havre, where the olives arrived by sea container. The analyses carried out by the Bordeaux laboratory confirmed the presence of the banned additive. 28.5 tons of olives were seized at the port. Subsequently, two searches in the wholesaler’s warehouses made it possible to confiscate an additional 2 tons.

This is not the first time this wholesaler has had trouble with the authorities. "He is considered a repeat offender," says an investigator to the newspaper Le Parisien. The merchant had already been sanctioned by the DGCCRF for similar acts. A new fine has been proposed to him, but its amount remains confidential.