Farmers' raid on the Méridienne area in Béziers and tension with the police

Les membres de la CR 34 du Biterrois ne décolèrent pas. ML

Les membres de la CR 34 du Biterrois ne décolèrent pas. ML

Les membres de la CR 34 du Biterrois ne décolèrent pas. ML

Les membres de la CR 34 du Biterrois ne décolèrent pas. ML

Les membres de la CR 34 du Biterrois ne décolèrent pas. ML

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Les membres de la CR 34 du Biterrois ne décolèrent pas. ML

This Friday, December 13, around thirty farmers from the Rural Coordination 34 carried out checks on transporters entering and leaving the Intermarché base at La Méridienne in Béziers, then went to the large Leclerc in Montimaran and in front of the Customs in Villeneuve-lès-Béziers.

The farmers from the Rural Coordination (CR) 34 are still furious. After their spectacular stunt on November 12 in Maureilhan (read below), members of the second largest French agricultural union met at the Méridienne roundabout, at the exit of the A9 (Cabrials) in Béziers, this Friday, December 13, in the morning.

Objective ? To check the goods of trucks entering and leaving the Intermarché logistics platform. Tires had been installed at the entrances to the lanes and on the roundabout, some were set on fire.

Samples of fruits and vegetables will be sent for analysis of possible traces of banned pesticides

“What interests us in particular, explained Frédéric Frances, a winegrower and arboriculturist in Cébazan, are fruits and vegetables. We obviously found tomatoes, zucchini and eggplants from Morocco, dates from Algeria… We took samples that we will send to two laboratories to find out if they contain traces of pesticides banned in France.” “You have to know, continued Laurent Crouzet, a winegrower in Puisserguier, that in France, we have the most restrictive standards in Europe. Respecting them, which we do, is expensive. Our workforce is also more expensive. We cannot fight against these products filled with pesticides and cheaper!

Furthermore, he specifies: “We also checked a truck that was transporting 24 pallets of sweet wines from Greece, while the cellars of Saint-Jean-du-Minervois, Frontignan, Rivesaltes and Lunel are full of muscat from the 2023 harvest!”

Checks at Leclerc, demonstration in front of Customs

Around 11:30 a.m., the demonstrators went to the large Leclerc in Montimaran to, this time, check the labeling of the foodstuffs, in particular the origins of fruits, vegetables and meats. Then, they headed to the Customs service in Villeneuve-lès-Béziers to express their anger.

“Our movement does not stop there. In January, elections will take place at the Chamber of Agriculture. Today, out of the 18 union representatives, 17 are from the FDSEA and 1 from the CR. We want at least parity, and why not, to become, with the Confédération paysanne, the majority”, specifies Frédéric Frances. Who, like the other members of the CR, has difficulty accepting “the validation, by the FNSEA, during the last negotiations, of the rate of 4,000 euros/ha of vines uprooted, while we were asking for 10,000 euros for 5 years. The FNSEA shot us in the foot.”

Tensions between demonstrators and national police

The national police had sent men to try to block the farmers in their action. Which caused some tensions. Aware of this, the mayor, Robert Ménard, and his wife and councilor Emmanuelle Ménard, went to the Méridienne "to try to calm the situation. But I find it scandalous that we import products that do not respect the same production standards as us. Particularly in Europe, indicated the chief magistrate of Béziers. I understand the exasperation of the farmers, their anger. They are not on an equal footing with their counterparts, European and elsewhere. Furthermore, I am against Mercosur, that goes without saying". The tensions have somewhat subsided. Also note the presence of the RN MP, Julien Gabarron, who came to support the movement.  

 

(*) The farmers of the CR 34 of Biterrois had dumped hundreds of tires in front of the entrance of the Trilles company, a Maureilhan merchant, to denounce imports of foreign wines produced according to rules, particularly health rules, much less restrictive than those of France. I subscribe to read the rest