France Loses Contraceptives, U.S. Plans Destruction

Belgian Warehouse Holds U.S.‑Funded Contraceptives

France says it cannot seize a stockpile worth $9.7 million that the United States plans to destroy after media reports indicated the products would be incinerated in France.

Background

• Contraceptives intended for sub‑Saharan Africa were purchased by USAID under former President Joe Biden.
• The Trump administration, which slashed USAID and pursued anti‑abortion policies, confirmed last month it planned to destroy the items stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium.
• Media reports suggested the unexpired products would be incinerated in France at the end of July by a company specializing in medical waste disposal.

French Government’s Response

The health ministry told AFP that there is no legal basis for a European health authority—or even the French national drug safety authority—to recover the medical products. “Since contraceptives are not drugs of major therapeutic interest, and in this case we are not facing a supply shortage, we have no means to requisition the stocks,” it added. The ministry also had no information on where the contraceptives would be destroyed.

Contraceptive Movement from the Belgian Warehouse

Sarah Durocher, head of the French women’s rights group Family Planning, told AFP that some contraceptives had already left the Belgian warehouse. “We were informed 36 hours ago that the removal of these boxes of contraceptives had begun,” she said Thursday. She added, “We call on all incineration companies not to destroy the contraceptives and to oppose this insane decision.”

Veolia’s Contract with Chemonics

French company Veolia confirmed to AFP that it had a contract with the U.S. firm Chemonics, USAID’s logistics provider. Veolia emphasized that the contract concerned only the management of expired products, which is not the case for the stockpile in Belgium. The products, mostly long‑acting contraceptives such as IUDs and birth‑control implants, are reportedly up to five years away from expiring.

Outrage in France

• Rights groups and left‑wing politicians have called on the French government to stop the plan. “France cannot become the scene of such operations – a moratorium is essential,” an opinion piece in Le Monde said Friday, signed by five NGOs.
• MSI Reproductive Choices offered to purchase and repackage the contraceptives at no cost to the U.S. government; all offers have been rejected.

U.S. State Department’s Statement

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told AFP earlier this week that the destruction of the products would cost $167,000 and that no HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed. The spokesperson pointed to a policy that prohibits providing aid to NGOs that perform or promote abortions. The Mexico City Policy, criticized as the “global gag rule,” was first introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and reinstated under every Republican president since.

Other U.S. Incinerations

Last month, the U.S. also incinerated nearly 500 metric tons of high‑nutrition biscuits that had been meant to keep malnourished children in Afghanistan and Pakistan alive.

For more updates, stay tuned to AFP and other reputable news outlets.