Terpan Prévention Granted Permission to Distribute Free Condoms in Pharmacies for Under 26 – Fighting STDs in France

In a world still affected by the strong circulation of the AIDS virus, and which, in addition, is seeing the resurgence of sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis, which has returned the effect in Europe and Canada, France has legislated for free condoms for them. under 26 from 1 January 2023. But many of them are not aware of the measure or want to go and ask for their boxes of condoms in pharmacies, in public.

Founded in 1986 and specializing in the marketing of medical devices, and especially condoms, the small company Terpan Prévention, based in Gallardon, is also one of the French leaders in its field: “We working in the prevention sector against STIs (sexual intercourse). transmitted diseases) with products such as the male condom and the female condom. We are also committed to prevention and awareness raising related to drug addiction. We also offer hygiene products in practical forms,” ​​affirms Kamal Yahiaoui, founder and head of Terpan Prevention, ISO 13485 certified in the medical device sector.

With its condom distributor, the company Terpan Prévention wins high schools in Hauts-de-France

Terpan Prévention was granted free delivery of condoms by public health authorities on March 18, 2024, for male condoms, and on April 4, 2024, for female condoms. Smile® condoms, a Terpan Prevention brand, are 100% supported under the same conditions as other brands, with no prescription or minimum age, for those under 26 years of age.
This sesame allows the Eurelian company to play in the big leagues, with a distinct advantage, because of its uniqueness in this area and its strength. It has been the main distributor of female condoms in France since 1999.

1st distributor of female condoms in France

Laughing condoms from Terpan are distributed free of charge in pharmacies to people under 26.

Terpan Prévention has also launched the installation of condom dispensers in schools in the Hauts-de-France region: “We have equipped 107 middle and high schools in Hauts-de-France in recent months. We have written to the Department of Center-Val de Loire to launch the same process. We are awaiting a response from elected officials. In addition to the commercial aspect that is necessary for the life of our company, the medical devices that we offer to our partners participate in a real public health policy and prevention to reduce the risks of sexual contamination, with condoms, hepatitis C, among drug addicts, for others. devices,” said the manager who recommends the generalization of free condoms for young French people.

The Terpan company in Gallardon launches its Kit Base® for the benefit of addicts

While the Eurelian company sees its activity in this sector, all its condom sales come from imports. In terms of production areas, latex comes from Malaysia, India, China and Southeast Asia. This sector dominates this global market and prevents the development of competition elsewhere on the planet.

According to the Eurelian entrepreneur, the phenomenon can be explained by two factors. One, linked to the natural raw material: it comes from the sap of tropical trees that mostly grow in the forests of these countries. The other factor is related to salary.

“Salaries and social costs are so low that no European company could compete in terms of cost price with these producers. Between 27 and 28 billion condoms are consumed worldwide every year, all of them Asian-made, even for top brands, such as Durex® or Manix®,” said Kamal Yahiaoui.

Regarding the subject of distribution, the boss says that he is in contact with the four French distribution groups in this area: OCP, CERP, Alliance and Phoenix Pharma. “We will also be able to deliver directly to pharmacies and we are continuing to develop to feature in most specialist catalogs in the sector. Our development is made possible by being recognized by the High Authority for Health in France and by the Ministry of Health. “

The company Terpan Prevention is innovating to strengthen the protection of drug addicts across Europe

Kamal Yahiaoui specifically measures the size of the French pharmacy market that we need to conquer: “France has more than 21,000 pharmacies and groups of pharmacies. Some groups have more than 4,500 pharmacies. We are already working with two large groups: the Île-de-France group and another group in the east of France. For these groups, we can make condom cases with their brand. “

Two condoms per young person per year

The company Terpan Prévention remembers that, in addition to orders from local authorities, who want to install condom dispensers in schools, they directly supply about a hundred secondary educational institutions Another French, thanks to the request of their local managers. The head of Eurelian also talks about the slow evolution of this market:
“Since Macron’s free law came into force, only 16 million condoms have been distributed. It should be remembered that eight million school children are affected by this system. This means that two condoms are recovered, in pharmacies, per young person every year. Not much! We have to keep telling young people, because every year, we have 5,000 new cases of AIDS in France. 30,000 people carry the virus, but they don’t know it yet. »

Things are even more complicated when it comes to using the female condom. Terpan Prevention distributes 40 million condoms in France and Europe, but the female portion is very marginal. “Of the 27 to 28 billion condoms distributed around the world, the proportion of female condoms represents only 400 million. In France, 130 million condoms are used every year, including very few female condoms. This is due to the more expensive cost, different raw material and because not many people know about the machine. “