Tests on farm food near Rouen plant fire 'reassuring'

The harvests at hundreds of farms near the Lubrizol chemical factory, near Rouen, could be able to be brought in after all, following tests, Health Minister Agnès Buzyn has hinted.

First analyses on food products within the affected area of the blaze were 'very reassuring', she said.

But she said further tests will be required to "verify ... that, after one week of accumulation, the samples still remain below recognised thresholds, as those of the normal environment".

As reported, farmers in 112 communes near the site of the chemical plant were banned from selling or harvesting their crops following a huge blaze at the end of September.

Ms Buzyn said, in an interview on LCI that if additional tests on further samples show little impact from the fire, then "all restrictions on food in the area that has been affected by the fumes and the fallout from the fire" could be lifted.

She added that 'traces' of hydrocarbon pollutants were present in samples taken, but said levels were no higher than normal pollution in Rouen.