France warns over sale of more than 40,000 defective condoms online — urges STI testing
DGCCRF and the General Directorate for Health alerted consumers after finding defective products online; around 260,000 items were pulled from the market.
French health and consumer authorities have disclosed that more than 40,000 defective condoms were sold online in recent months and have urged anyone who used those products to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) and the General Directorate for Health (DGS) warned that the faulty condoms pose significant health and safety risks, including unwanted pregnancy and transmission of STIs. Regulators ordered online platforms selling the disputed products to remove the listings immediately.
Scope of the defects and market action
Investigators identified around 30 different condom types that lacked the mandatory European CE safety marking and had not passed independent quality checks. Most of the items were traced to Asian suppliers and sold through major online retailers. Authorities say defective condoms were also found on the shelves of some shops and pharmacies.
Inspectors reported two main problems with the products: some carried an increased risk of bursting, while others showed signs of perforation. As a consequence of the findings, roughly 260,000 pieces were withdrawn from the market.
The French alert follows a broader European operation: in July the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) discovered more than 200,000 counterfeit condoms that had been sold under the logo of a well-known brand and shipped from the same supplier in China. Those consignments were seized in Spain, Romania and Serbia.
Authorities say consumers who bought or used the suspect products should contact health services and consider STI screening, noting that prompt testing and care reduce health risks after potential condom failure.
Photo: press material from the event
