Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Fresh green beans (haricots verts) are produced in France and supplied to the domestic market mainly during the summer season, with off-season availability supported by imports. Producer-organization data describes three main French production basins (Nord, Grand-Ouest, Sud-Ouest) for beans. France also imports significant volumes of fresh/chilled beans (HS 070820), with Morocco and Kenya among the largest reported origins. Market access and trading practices are shaped by EU plant health rules for non-EU imports, EU pesticide MRL compliance, and French DGCCRF controls on conformity and consumer information for fresh fruit and vegetables.
Market RoleProducer with seasonal import dependence (off-season)
Domestic RoleCommon fresh vegetable in retail and foodservice; also a significant species in France’s processed-vegetable category (frozen/canned)
SeasonalityDomestic supply peaks in summer (commonly June–September, with an extended French season often cited into October); off-season retail availability is largely supported by imports (notably Morocco and Kenya).
Specification
Secondary Variety- Haricots verts extra-fins / très fins
- Haricots verts fins / mi-fins
- Haricots plats
Physical Attributes- Intact, sound produce; free from rotting or deterioration making it unfit for consumption (UNECE FFV-06).
- Clean and practically free of visible foreign matter (UNECE FFV-06).
- Fresh in appearance and free of abnormal external moisture (UNECE FFV-06).
- Practically free from pests and damage caused by pests (UNECE FFV-06).
- Free of foreign smell and/or taste (UNECE FFV-06).
Grades- UNECE FFV-06 commercial classes: “Extra”, “Class I”, “Class II”.
Packaging- Packaging and presentation commonly follow commercial quality-control requirements aligned to UNECE FFV-06 to protect beans during handling and transport.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest → sorting/grading → packing → chilled distribution → wholesale/retail and foodservice.
- Off-season imports (non-EU) → border/official controls as applicable → importer distribution → wholesale/retail.
Temperature- Maintain cold-chain discipline to limit wilting/dehydration and decay; temperature breaks accelerate quality loss.
- Avoid condensation and excess surface moisture that can increase spoilage risk during transport and storage.
Shelf Life- Short shelf-life relative to many vegetables; quality is highly sensitive to handling damage and cold-chain interruptions.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeLand
Risks
Food Safety HighPesticide-residue non-compliance (EU MRL exceedance) is a major deal-breaker risk for fresh green beans supplied to France: it can trigger border rejection, withdrawal, and rapid-alert actions under EU official controls and enforcement practices.Implement residue-control programs (GAP compliance, pre-harvest intervals, and pre-shipment residue testing for higher-risk origins/lots) and maintain full lot traceability to support targeted holds/recalls if needed.
Logistics MediumPerishability makes the category sensitive to refrigerated transport disruption (fuel-price spikes, carrier capacity issues, strikes/traffic delays), which can raise shrink and landed costs for both domestic and imported supply.Use temperature-monitored shipments, maintain contingency carriers/routes, and align procurement to seasonal windows to reduce reliance on long-distance emergency freight.
Plant Health MediumFor non-EU origin beans, plant-health import controls and documentation errors (including phytosanitary certification issues) can cause delays or rejection at entry points.Confirm commodity classification and plant-health requirements before shipment; ensure document completeness/consistency and coordinate with SIVEP and relevant EU workflows prior to arrival.
Regulatory Compliance MediumConformity and consumer-information non-compliance (e.g., origin/label inconsistencies) is a recurring enforcement theme in France’s DGCCRF fresh fruit and vegetable controls, creating commercial and reputational risk.Run label/origin verification and lot-to-label reconciliation checks at packing and import receiving; keep auditable records for DGCCRF inspections.
Sustainability- Pesticide-use scrutiny and residue compliance management driven by EU MRL rules for food of plant origin.
- Water and irrigation stress exposure for summer vegetable production during heatwaves/drought periods (risk managed through sourcing diversification and agronomic practices).
Labor & Social- Seasonal agricultural labor availability and working-condition compliance (contracts, working hours, accommodations where relevant) can be a sensitivity in vegetable supply chains.
FAQ
When is the French season for fresh green beans, and how is off-season supply covered?French domestic supply is mainly seasonal, commonly cited with a summer peak (June–September) and an extension into early autumn. Outside that window, France’s market availability is supported by imports; Morocco and Kenya are frequently cited as key off-season origins and also appear among the top reported origins in France’s HS 070820 import data.
Which origins are most prominent in France’s reported imports of fresh/chilled beans (HS 070820)?In UN Comtrade data accessed via WITS for 2023 (HS 070820), Morocco and Kenya are among the leading reported origins for France’s imports, with other reported origins including Senegal and Spain. This HS code is a trade proxy for fresh green beans but may include other fresh/chilled beans.
What are the key compliance areas for supplying fresh green beans to France from outside the EU?Key areas are (1) EU plant-health requirements for non-EU plant products (often including phytosanitary certification and border checks) and (2) EU food-safety compliance, especially pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs), under EU official controls. France also enforces marketing conformity and accurate consumer information for fresh fruit and vegetables through DGCCRF controls.