France under pressure to stop $9.7m of USAID contraceptives being destroyed
US reportedly planning to destroy contraceptives, probably destined for Africa, in France after dismantling USAIDUS reportedly planning to destroy contraceptives, probably destined for Africa, in France after dismantling USAID
The French government has announced it is keeping a close watch on a US proposal to destroy millions of dollars’ worth of contraceptives held in Europe, following criticism from French feminist groups, human rights organisations and family planning advocates, who have denounced the move as a wasteful assault on women’s health rights.
According to a recent report by the Guardian, the Trump administration intends to incinerate $9.7 million of long-acting contraceptives—such as intrauterine devices and implants—currently stored in a warehouse in Belgium, with plans to transport them to France for disposal. These products were procured under USAID public health initiatives and were likely earmarked for distribution to women in Africa. A spokesperson for the US State Department confirmed to Agence France-Presse that an initial decision has been taken to destroy certain contraceptive supplies tied to USAID contracts cancelled during the Biden administration. The spokesperson also noted that the dismantling of USAID in January by the Trump administration precipitated this outcome.
The same official estimated the cost of destruction at $167,000 and emphasized that no HIV medications or condoms would be affected. While the contraceptives are reported to be in a Geel, Belgium, facility, plans to burn them on French soil remain unverified by Paris. Both France and Belgium face mounting pressure to block the incineration. In a statement, France’s Ministry of Health said it “continues to monitor this issue closely and supports Belgian authorities in seeking a solution to avert the destruction of contraceptives.”
Defending sexual and reproductive health is a cornerstone of French foreign policy. In response to the threatened destruction, a coalition of French human rights groups, feminist associations and labour unions launched a petition this week demanding an end to the planned incinerations. “We will not stand by while this unjust and sexist decision is carried out; it constitutes both economic and human waste,” the collective declared. Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the French Greens, also signed an open letter urging President Emmanuel Macron to intervene, warning that “our country cannot be complicit, even indirectly, in retrograde policies.”
Socialist MP Céline Thiébault-Martinez told France Inter radio that failure by France to oppose the destruction would undermine its credibility with women. Sarah Durocher, head of a French family planning organisation, argued that “France has a moral duty to act,” while Charles Dallara—whose grandfather-in-law Lucien Neuwirth championed France’s 1967 oral contraception law—sent an open letter to Macron pleading with him not to “allow France to be implicated in this scandal.”
Belgium’s government says it is in urgent contact with US officials but cannot yet confirm whether the stockpile has been moved to France. A Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson explained that Brussels alerted the US embassy in Belgium immediately upon learning of the potential destruction. “The ministry is exploring every available option to prevent the incineration of these stocks, including their temporary relocation,” they said, adding that they have no further details to verify a transfer to France.
International organisations specialising in reproductive health have offered to rescue the supplies. MSI Reproductive Choices proposed buying, repackaging and handling logistics at its own expense to ensure the products reach those in need, an offer that was declined. The International Planned Parenthood Federation similarly offered to take custody of the contraceptives “at no cost to the US government,” but this proposal was also rejected, AFP reports.
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