In France, several supermarkets have been selling bait ham for more than six years as if it were pata negra. The Ministry of Agriculture recognizes that the sale of ham in France makes an incorrect use of the denomination. The French Justice defends that the quality of Iberian ham is not applicable in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, assured that "Solutions will be sought" to various questions from El Confidencial.

In June 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture already informed El Confidencial about the deception that was being committed, which was being investigated by the French justicia. Finally, the decision of the French court was: "Consider that the Iberian quality standard is not applicable in France"

At an international level, this term is known as a synonym of quality, but the regulations on the Iberian pig have no effect outside our borders: "It is reserved exclusively for the designation '100% Iberian acorn-fed'", according to the royal decree of 2014.

As this regulation is not valid in France, in 2016, the company labeyrie launched a range of Iberian products made in Spain, among which its Jambon Pata Negra stands out. According to the company, this product is a "50% Iberian breed cebo de campo" sliced ​​ham.

The lack of control reaches its supermarkets, if we look for the term pata negra, in the Carrefour supermarket, the first result will be Labeyrie ham, sixty grams for about seven euros. To find a ham that fits the legality of the regulations, we must investigate three more rows, «Pata Negra Bellota Covap España Shoulder» one hundred and twenty grams for thirty euros. Both products carry the same label, but only the fine print warns the consumer of this difference in quality.

Agreements between France and Spain.

Last January, at the Spanish-French summit held in Barcelona, ​​the presidents of both countries met. Pedro Sánchez and Emmanuel Macron signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The objective of this agreement is mutual aid to carry out official agri-food controls and fight against fraud.

The Ministry of Agriculture highlights this agreement, but recognizes that the protection of the term pata negra requires going a step further and taking the case to Brussels: "It can only be resolved through modifications to European regulations," according to El Confidencial.