The chemical that the French government wants to prohibit is used to control the Suzukii fruit fly. This Asian fruit fly leaves a path of destruction in its wake when it finds its way into a fruit orchard. According to the French government, this chemical is harmful to people's health.
France imports about a fifth of the cherries that are consumed domestically. EU countries such as Spain and Germany are major suppliers. Dimethoate is also banned in these countries. Before the boycott was announced, the American import was valued at $1 million. The banning of this chemical substance has also affected French production. The ban will reduce the supply of French cherries. This will, in turn, raise prices. This creates opportunities for other countries such as the United Kingdom. The French Ministry has pledged a subsidy of $5 million to compensate for the losses caused by the Suzukii fruit fly.
Meanwhile, importers and traders are concerned that the French government will implement similar restrictions to other EU-approved substances. This would affect the import of fruit.