By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB You are listening to a new special from am1575news, France24 and Radio Centrale Milano, in podcasting and on the medium wave.
The problem discovered by the authorities
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Repression, together with the Ministry of Health, has reported the presence of roughly thirty references of non‑conforming condoms marketed in recent months in France. The products, sold both online and in physical stores, include more than a thousand packs, equivalent to over forty thousand condoms. Most of these items come from Asian distributors and do not carry the CE mark nor any European conformity certification, although they display labels in French.
Health risks and recalls
Among the identified products, two references bearing the CE mark were still found to be defective: one for the risk of bursting during use, the other for the presence of perforations. In total, about 260 000 units have been subject to recalls launched at the end of May and the beginning of August. The brands involved include Friday Bae, Okamoto, Sagami – the latter sold on platforms such as Amazon – and My Lubie, distributed through pharmacies, large chains and specialist stores.
Authorities at work
The authorities have ordered e‑commerce platforms to immediately remove listings related to these condoms and to inform third‑party sellers. Several platforms responded by committing to strengthen their verification systems and filtering criteria to prevent the spread of unsafe products. In addition, a press release with explicit recommendations for consumers who have purchased or used the suspect condoms has been issued.
What to advise consumers
The Ministry of Health invites anyone who has used these condoms to undergo a test for sexually transmitted infections and, in case of a missed period, to take a pregnancy test. It is also recommended to carefully verify the seller’s identity and reliability, the presence of the CE mark placed by the manufacturer, the availability of an information sheet in French, the condition of the packaging and the product’s expiration date. In case of doubt, it is advisable to consult a pharmacist or a doctor for further guidance.
Rachel’s Editorial – The absurdity of CE‑less condoms: the drama of 40 000 scams on underwear
I will now read you my current editorial.
That was the last thing we needed. After an endless series of data breaches, here we are at the drama of dramas: the condom market in France turning into a Russian roulette for our most delicate parts. Tens of thousands of packs, lacking the CE mark, readily sold by “Asian distributors” on Amazon and even in pharmacies. Sure, because no one ever wondered whether the State is supposed to check conformity, or whether it’s our job to take a pregnancy test after using a suspicious plastic wrapper.
And now the authorities recommend taking pregnancy tests and screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Really? Is that the bare minimum or a new form of health spectacle? If our condoms can burst in an instant, perhaps the priority should be to ban the sale, not just advise us to run to the lab afterward. But who will have time to take a test when the product has already been used? And why does the DGCCRF seem more interested in punishing sellers than ensuring consumer safety?
Then there’s the “more than 260 000 units recalled” figure. A number that shows how huge the market of bureaucratic inefficiency is: CE‑marked products that are defective, and non‑certified products that manage to infiltrate our shelves. Is it really that hard to distinguish a genuine condom from a scam, or is it just the result of weak regulations and “eye‑ball” control? Authorities urge us to verify the seller’s identity and the CE mark, but don’t you also feel the answer is like asking a passenger to check the aircraft’s steering wheel before take‑off?
In conclusion, a serious debate is welcome on who should really guarantee the quality of essential products. Is it the consumer’s fault, the seller’s, the certification body’s, or the whole system that allows 40 000 “non‑conforming” condoms to end up in our sheets? The answer is simpler than you think: it’s everyone’s fault, but especially those who look away while the problem advances. And if the next scandal is table salt that doesn’t dissolve, who will take responsibility?
Koan of the day
Monk: Master, why does the market allow condoms without CE certification to be sold, risking unwanted pregnancies?
Master: Because the nets of trust are woven with invisible threads; when a knot is missing, the thread falls, yet we keep walking on the void believing we do not hear its sound.
Monk: Then, Master, if responsibility is shared, who can truly repair the damage and stop the drift?
Master: No one can fill all the holes alone; only when everyone acknowledges they have planted the seed will the condom plant grow strong and not bear fruit of fear.
That’s all for now. From the Paris editorial office, I’m Rachel Costa: this is am1575news, France24 and Radio Centrale Milano.