Products covered by the recall
The action targets 15 ultra-thin condom types made by Malaysia's Richter Rubber Technology. France has also imposed a one-year ban on sales and imports of all ultra-thin condoms the company makes using the defective production process. Authorities can renew the ban if needed.
Only some of the roughly 7 million affected condoms were sold in France, according to the French economy ministry. Dutch public broadcaster NOS identified the recalled brands as Releaf, Einhorn, My Lubie, Primeros, You & Me, Amor, R&S and ON. The products are available both online and in stores.
French authorities have released a list identifying the affected products and batches. Their order requires retailers to remove them from sale and calls for the recall of products already in consumers' hands.
According to Pollar, France's Official Journal identifies the German company RRT Vertrieb und Service GmbH as Richter Rubber Technology's representative. Pollar's summary of reporting by 20minutes, Süddeutsche Zeitung and The Telegraph also identifies affected products made for the French brands My Lubie and Friday Bae.
Tests and reports of breakage
France's Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) announced the findings on Friday, October 30. Laboratory testing found inconsistent thickness and quality in the latex film used to make the condoms.
The samples failed pressure and burst-volume testing as well as checks for perforations, authorities said. They concluded that the manufacturer lacked control over its production process.
A ministerial order dated October 22 and published in France's Official Journal on October 30 said: "Some users have reported condom breakages and unwanted pregnancies linked to the sampled batches."
The investigation began after earlier recalls involving around 260,000 condoms in late May and early August. Eight users have reported breakages since those initial recalls.
My Lubie CEO Pierre Lagache said the company had voluntarily recalled one batch as a precaution, according to Pollar. "We are talking about a medical device: at the slightest doubt, we pull it from the market without waiting," he said.
Marketplace findings and Dutch review
Investigators separately identified 30 condom lines offered on online marketplaces without the EU conformity seal or French labeling, according to reporting summarized by Pollar and Ground News. About 1,000 boxes containing more than 40,000 condoms from those lines had already been sold. The platforms agreed to remove the listings.
In the Netherlands, the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) received notice from French authorities on the morning of Friday, October 30, 2026, NOS reported. The inspectorate said it was reviewing the notification, would contact regulators in France and other European countries, and would act in the Netherlands if necessary.
Condoms are legally classified as medical devices in the EU and therefore fall within the IGJ's oversight, according to NOS.
Advice for people who used affected condoms
French authorities advise anyone who used an affected condom to visit a medical laboratory for STI screening. They also recommend a pregnancy test if a period is late. Anyone with concerns can seek advice from a doctor or a free sexual health screening center.
The DGCCRF has asked consumers to report adverse incidents, including condoms breaking or developing holes during use, through the government's health incident reporting platform. The agency said it would check whether the withdrawal and recall were being carried out effectively.
