While sales of self-tests explode with the approach of the end of the year holidays, the supermarket chains would also like to be able to offer them. Currently, only pharmacies are authorized to sell it, at a capped price of 5.20 euros. Thursday, December 23 on Franceinfo, the CEO of the Leclerc group Michel-Édouard Leclerc regretted this situation. “We have it in stock, but we are not allowed to sell it”, he lamented, denouncing “regulations which date from another era”.
While some pharmacies are out of self-testing, supermarkets could have filled this gap by also offering them for sale. As was the case with masks, from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The boss of Leclerc also indicated on Franceinfo to have sold in his stores no less than 900 million masks since March 2020.
>> Read also – Covid-19: self-tests soon to be reimbursed for vaccinated people?
Like Michel-Édouard Leclerc, the executive director of purchasing and marketing of Lidl France had indicated on Tuesday December 21 on BFM Business hoped to be able to sell self-tests in its points of sale soon. “For the moment, we are not allowed to do so, so I haven’t ordered any, knowing that I may not be able to sell them,” he lamented. Before indicating wanting to take part in the fight against Covid-19, by offering its consumers self-tests “at cost price”. The leader did not hesitate to appeal to the Minister of Health. “There are manufacturers in France. We can get some fairly quickly if necessary, so if Mr. Véran allows us to sell them, we will most likely order some,” he said. As a reminder, in several countries such as Germany, Belgium or Switzerland, the sale of self-tests in supermarkets is authorized.
>> Read also – Covid-19: the departments where the epidemic is worsening, our map of France
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