France's highest constitutional body has ruled that allowing the reintroduction of a pesticide harmful to the environment is unconstitutional.
The so-called "Dupont law" sparked public outrage over the reintroduction of acetamiprid, a chemical known to be toxic to bees and other creatures but relied upon by some European farmers.
A student petition against the bill gathered over two million signatures after lawmakers passed it on July 8, with critics saying it had been rushed through the polarized lower house of parliament without proper debate. The Constitutional Council said in its ruling that a provision in the bill allowing exceptions to the ban on products containing neonicotinoid chemicals such as acetamiprid would violate France's environmental charter. In 2020, the council granted a temporary exemption from the ban, limited to the beet and seed sectors. But the ruling said that measure did not provide enough details on how long the pesticides could be used, how they would be enforced, or which crops would be affected. The legislature undermined the "right to live in a balanced and healthy environment" enshrined in the charter, the council said. "Neonicotinoids have an impact on biodiversity, in particular on pollinating insects and birds, as well as on water and soil quality, and pose a risk to human health," the council said. The Constitutional Council approved two other measures in the law: one allowing the construction of reservoirs for agricultural purposes and the other raising the thresholds at which pig and poultry farms require prior authorization.
French President Emmanuel Macron "took note" of the decision, his office said on Thursday. The president will adopt the law as soon as possible in a form that takes into account the decision, the Elysée Palace said.
Bee killer
Banned in France since 2018, acetamiprid remains legal in the EU, with its supporters saying some French farmers need it to help them compete in the market.
The insecticide is particularly sought after by beet and hazelnut growers, who say they have no alternative against pests and face unfair competition.
But a petition on the website of the lower house of the French National Assembly, which gathered over 2.1 million signatures, described the exceptions for the pesticide as a "frontal attack on public health." Beekeepers describe the chemical as a "bee killer," and its potential effects on humans are also a source of concern, although the risk remains unclear in the absence of large-scale studies.
For some opponents, the disappointment extends beyond concerns about the environment and health to frustration with the political deadlock in the country. One supporter of the petition called it "democratic revenge" after Macron pushed through controversial pension reforms in parliament in 2023 and dissolved the lower house last year, triggering political turmoil that led to a parliament with a divided vote.
At the end of June, before the law was passed, several thousand demonstrators, including farmers, environmental organizations, and scientists, gathered across France, calling for the bill to be withdrawn. | BGNES, AFP