Over 260,000 condoms have been recalled from the market in France after being deemed unsafe. French regulatory authorities issued a warning on Friday, stating that thousands of condoms sold in stores, pharmacies, and online could pose a health risk.
Laboratory tests revealed a risk of tearing or the presence of holes in two specific products. Furthermore, 30 different types of condoms available on online marketplaces did not comply with established standards, with approximately 40,000 units already delivered to consumers.
This information was provided in a joint statement by the DGCCRF agency, which combats fraud, and the DGS, responsible for healthcare. The agencies reported that about 260,000 condoms were withdrawn from stores and pharmacies. Serious defects were discovered during laboratory testing of two products.
Concerns regarding tearing and the presence of small holes were identified in these products. Health authorities advised anyone who used these condoms to undergo infectious disease testing and to take a pregnancy test if they experienced a missed period.
The investigation also showed that 30 condom items sold on online platforms lacked European Union safety certification and did not contain necessary information in French. More than 40,000 of these condoms, packed in about a thousand boxes, had already been sold. The agencies noted that the platforms where these goods were sold agreed to remove the relevant listings.
Among the non-compliant brands are two products from the Japanese company Okamoto Industries and the French brands My Luby and Friday Be. Pierre Lagash, CEO of My Luby, told Reuters that the recall affected only one batch. He clarified that the initial test of this batch was negative, but subsequent verification confirmed its compliance. He emphasized that because it is a medical device, it is being removed from the market even with the slightest doubts.
According to him, the company took this step purely as a precaution, despite its own manufacturer checks not revealing defects. He also stated that only one batch was affected, and no complaints of harm had been received so far. Okamoto Industries and Friday Be have not yet responded to Reuters' requests.