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Gendarmes in the south-east of France have announced the seizure of 375kg of mushrooms that were gathered illegally in a regional park, warning people that there are rules on what they can
pick.
The huge seizure of mushrooms was made by the Drôme gendarmerie and the Office national de la biodiversité as part of an environmental protection mission on Saturday, September 28.
The lactaire mushrooms had been picked in the regional park - a protected space - in which, under article L. 411-1 of the environmental code, “the picking of mushrooms is strictly prohibited
where there is a particular scientific interest or the need to preserve the biological heritage justifies their conservation”.
Mushroom picking is subject to regulations that are designed to protect France’s natural spaces and prevent industrial picking.
As a rule of thumb picking for personal consumption is tolerated on public land unless the departmental prefecture has put in place specific bans, as is the case in many national and
regional parks or areas of environmental interest.
The permitted allowance is a five litres of mushrooms per person per day.
Exceed this allowance could result in a fine, which rises from €750 (for volumes below 10 litres) to €45,000 and a five-year prison term in exceptional cases or in case of deliberate
environmental damage.
On private land, mushrooms belong to the landowner. Picking them is theft, even if there is no sign indicating this.
