French Farmers Launch Nationwide Protests Over Animal Health and EU-Mercosur Trade Deal

Farmers Mobilize Across France

French agricultural unions have commenced a new wave of nationwide protests, with significant demonstrations planned for January 7, 2026, and ongoing actions since January 5. The protests are a direct response to long-standing grievances concerning animal health management and the contentious EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Unions such as the Confédération Paysanne, Rural Coordination, and Jeunes Agriculteurs are actively participating, with the FNSEA also expressing strong criticism of current policies.

Protests have already led to disruptions across various regions. The Rural Coordination union initiated blockades on the A7 motorway south of Lyon on January 6, with at least 50 tractors involved in a 'slow-moving' protest. Further actions are anticipated, including a significant demonstration in Paris on January 8 organized by the Rural Coordination, and a gathering of Jeunes Agriculteurs in Strasbourg on January 7. Other affected areas include Normandy, Isère, Drôme, Haute-Garonne, Gard, Puy-de-Dôme, and the A64 near Toulouse.

Animal Health Management Under Fire

A primary catalyst for the renewed unrest is the government's management of an outbreak of nodular dermatitis, commonly known as lumpy skin disease, affecting cattle. Farmers are particularly angered by the policy of compulsory culling of entire herds when a single case is detected. This measure, while deemed necessary by authorities to prevent further spread, is viewed by many farmers as excessive and financially devastating, leading to the destruction of healthy animals. The disease, a viral infection spread by biting insects, has prompted the government to expand vaccination programs, but the culling policy remains a major point of contention.

Opposition to EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Intensifies

The proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement continues to be a significant source of farmer discontent. French farmers express profound concerns that the deal will lead to unfair competition from cheaper South American agricultural imports. They argue that these imports often do not adhere to the same stringent environmental, sanitary, and social standards as those imposed on European producers. Specific worries include:

• Duty-free imports of products like beef, poultry, and sugar.
• The potential use of substances banned in Europe, such as mancozeb, glufosinate, thiophanate-methyl, and carbendazim, in South American produce.
• Fears that the agreement could exacerbate deforestation in countries like Brazil.

The agreement, which aims to create the world's largest free-trade area, has faced strong opposition from France and Italy. A crucial vote on the deal, initially scheduled for December, was postponed to January 9, with EU ambassadors expected to greenlight the agreement this week, potentially leading to a signing ceremony on January 12 in Paraguay.

Government's Response and Future Outlook

In an effort to address farmer grievances, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard have engaged with agricultural union representatives. The French government has announced measures to tighten checks on food imports, aiming to ensure that all imported products comply with EU standards and do not contain residues of prohibited substances. Minister Genevard explicitly stated that France would ban food products containing such residues, with Prime Minister Lecornu pledging to eliminate 'double standards' and reinforce import controls.

Concurrently, the European Commission has proposed offering early access to approximately 45 billion euros in agriculture funds from the 2028-2034 budget to support farmers and alleviate concerns regarding the Mercosur deal. Despite these efforts, the agricultural unions maintain pressure, indicating that the scale and duration of the protests will depend on the concrete responses from both the French government and European Union officials.