Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dried lentils in France are a mainstream pulse category sold primarily as packaged dry legumes for household cooking and foodservice. France has specialty domestic production (notably Lentille verte du Puy AOP), while bulk supply and some lentil types are largely met through imports under EU rules.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market with domestic specialty production (notably Lentille verte du Puy AOP)
Domestic RoleStaple dry pulse for retail and foodservice; premium origin-certified segment for Lentille verte du Puy AOP
SeasonalityField harvest is seasonal, but dried lentils are supplied year-round via storage and packaged distribution.
Specification
Secondary Variety- Green lentils (incl. Lentille verte du Puy AOP segment)
- Brown lentils
- Red lentils (commonly sold as decorticated/split product)
Physical Attributes- Low foreign matter and stones
- Uniform size and color within lot
- Low broken and split rate for whole-lentil SKUs
- Low insect damage and absence of live pests
Compositional Metrics- Moisture control to prevent mold growth and quality loss during storage
Grades- Retail/packer quality grades based on cleanliness, uniformity, and defect tolerance
- AOP/PDO specification compliance for Lentille verte du Puy (when claimed)
Packaging- Retail bags/pouches for consumer sale
- Bulk sacks or big bags for foodservice and industrial users
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Farm harvest → drying/cleaning → sorting & grading → bulk storage → packaging (retail or bulk) → distribution to retail/foodservice
Temperature- Keep product dry and protected from condensation; avoid warm, humid storage conditions that raise moisture risk
Atmosphere Control- Low humidity and good ventilation reduce moisture uptake and storage pest pressure
Shelf Life- Dried lentils have long shelf life if kept dry; quality risks increase with moisture uptake, insect infestation, and packaging integrity failures
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Food Safety Mrl HighEU pesticide residue non-compliance is a deal-breaker risk for dried lentils entering France: exceedances can trigger border actions, shipment rejection, and RASFF notifications, disrupting market access and buyer approvals.Implement origin-specific residue risk assessment, pre-shipment multi-residue testing against EU MRLs, and supplier controls aligned to EU compliance; maintain complete lot traceability and corrective-action records.
Logistics MediumFreight-rate volatility (ocean and onward EU trucking) can materially shift landed costs for imported bulk lentils and compress margins for traders and packers serving price-sensitive retail channels in France.Use forward freight coverage where feasible, diversify origins and shipping windows, and maintain buffer inventory to reduce spot exposure.
Quality Storage MediumStorage quality failures (moisture uptake, condensation, or insect infestation) can lead to downgrades, claims, or rejections by French packers and retailers, especially for retail-ready product.Control warehouse humidity, use moisture-barrier packaging where appropriate, apply pest-monitoring programs, and verify cleanliness/foreign-matter specs prior to packing.
Claim Integrity MediumMislabeling or insufficient substantiation of AOP/PDO or organic claims can trigger enforcement action and delisting risks in France, particularly for premium origin-certified lentils.Ensure certified chain-of-custody for AOP/PDO or organic products, keep label approvals and certification documents on file, and segregate certified vs. non-certified lots in storage and packing.
Standards- IFS Food
- BRCGS Food Safety
- FSSC 22000
FAQ
What is the biggest reason dried lentil shipments can be blocked or rejected when entering France?Pesticide residue non-compliance is the most critical risk: if residues exceed EU maximum residue limits, authorities can hold or reject the shipment and it may be notified through the EU’s RASFF system, which can also affect buyer approvals.
What is “Lentille verte du Puy” in the French market?It is a French green lentil marketed under an EU Protected Designation of Origin (AOP/PDO). To use the name, producers and packers must follow the defined specification and be within the controlled production framework.
Which labeling rules matter for packaged dried lentils sold to consumers in France?Packaged lentils must follow EU consumer food information rules (including mandatory label particulars and lot identification), and French market enforcement focuses on accurate labeling and substantiated claims such as organic or origin designations.
Sources
FAO — FAOSTAT — lentil production statistics (France)
Eurostat — EU trade statistics (COMEXT) — dried legumes (HS 0713) trade flows relevant to France
Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire (France) — AGRESTE — French agricultural statistics on protein crops/pulses (including lentils) and regional production context
Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO), France — AOP/PDO specification and control framework — Lentille verte du Puy
European Commission (DG SANTE) — EU pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) and pesticide residues reference tools
European Commission — RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) — notification and enforcement signaling for non-compliant food imports
European Union (EUR-Lex) — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — food information to consumers (labeling rules applicable in France)
European Union (EUR-Lex) — Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 — General Food Law and traceability principles
DGCCRF (France) — French food market controls and guidance relevant to labeling/claims enforcement