Millions worth of US-funded contraceptives is to be incinerated in France

(MENAFN)
A $10 million stockpile of US-funded contraceptives is set to be incinerated in France, after the US government rejected multiple offers to redirect the supplies to countries in need, a news agency reported on Wednesday.

The shipment, consisting of birth control pills and implants, has been stranded in Belgium since early 2025, following President Donald Trump’s decision to shut down USAID and freeze US foreign aid programs. Originally intended for developing nations, the unused supplies will now be destroyed at a medical waste facility in France, a process estimated to cost around $167,000.

The contraceptives are currently stored in the Belgian city of Geel and will require dozens of truckloads and at least two weeks to move to the incineration site, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Belgium's Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the situation, saying it had explored every possible avenue to prevent the destruction, including temporary relocation, but no viable alternative could be found. “Sexual and reproductive health must not be subject to ideological constraints,” the ministry stated.

Human rights and reproductive health organizations also attempted to intervene. Sarah Shaw, Associate Director of Advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, said the NGO offered to purchase and repackage the supplies—removing USAID branding—and cover shipping costs to get them to their intended destinations. The US declined the proposal.

Critics argue that the decision is driven by ideology rather than practicality. “This isn’t about money—it’s a political statement that comes at the expense of women’s health,” said one reproductive rights advocate.

The incineration of the supplies has sparked widespread condemnation from global health and rights groups, who warn that the loss will undermine access to contraception in vulnerable communities worldwide.

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