Editor’s Note
Customs officers in Aulnay-sous-Bois intercepted a large shipment of jewelry from China containing hazardous levels of cadmium. The costume jewelry, destined for a Parisian wholesaler, will be destroyed.
Customs officers in Aulnay-sous-Bois intercepted a massive shipment of jewelry imported from China, some of which contained cadmium levels dangerous to health.
The costume jewelry, including one model with particularly concerning cadmium levels, was destined for a Parisian wholesaler. It will be destroyed.
(©French Customs)
By Julie Bossart
Published on June 1, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Recently associated with major concerns about our diet, cadmium also hides in accessories. Proof is the recent seizure by customs officers in Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis).
Their attention focused on a large shipment of 40,022 costume jewelry pieces imported from China and destined for a Parisian wholesaler, the institution responsible for citizen protection stated on Saturday, May 30, 2026. And, “following targeted checks and analyses by the Joint Customs-DGCCRF Laboratories Service, the results proved particularly concerning.”
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that can cause “severe allergic reactions; kidney damage; fertility disorders; certain cancers with prolonged exposure,” the Customs services added.
The goods, with a declared value of approximately €13,000, have been seized and will be destroyed, it was specified.
According to ANSES, nearly half of French people are overexposed to cadmium. The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety recommends tackling the problem at its source. Among all causes of French exposure to cadmium, diet is clearly the main one. ANSES urges action on agricultural soils and the content of fertilizers, such as phosphate mineral fertilizers.
In parallel, it will soon be possible, under certain conditions, to know one’s cadmium levels through laboratory analyses in cities. This screening—reimbursed 60% by Health Insurance and 40% by complementary insurance—will not be “systematic” but “targeted at people exposed due to their place of residence,” according to recommendations from the High Authority for Health (HAS).