Macron urged to restore foie gras exports to Japan

French foie gras producers have asked President Emmanuel Macron not to “forget” them during his visit to Japan, a crucial market that suspended imports of French foie gras in 2023 due to avian influenza, reports AFP.

Ahead of the president’s four-day visit, which begins on Tuesday, “a brief note was sent to him to not forget us,” said Fabien Chevalier, president of the Foie Gras Producers Association (Cifog), on Monday, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

“It is our main export market and the one we need to recover,” he added.

Avian influenza has been widespread in France since late 2015, with the last outbreak in 2021/22 leading to the culling of millions of birds.

Following an unprecedented crisis (32 million poultry culled since summer 2021), the French government imposed mandatory vaccination for farms with over 250 ducks, excluding breeding animals, starting October 1, 2023, to limit the spread of the virus.

Japan, previously the main market for French foie gras outside the European Union (EU), suspended imports of French poultry products due to duck vaccinations, fearing the virus continues to circulate in French farms.

Other high-value products, such as Bresse chickens, are also affected by Japan’s restrictions.

Despite these export challenges, France produced 14,500 tons of foie gras last year (compared to 14,000 tons in 2024 and 8,000 tons in 2022), according to Cifog. However, this figure remains below pre-flu production levels.

Most ducks in France are raised for foie gras production, a product made from the livers of geese and ducks, which are force-fed to enlarge their livers.