Paris – The highest court in France blocked on Thursday a key element of a controversial agricultural law which would have brought back a prohibited pesticide.
The court said that the measure had not protected the environment and future generations. The rest of the law – known as the “DUPLOMB law”, after the senator who proposed it – was authorized to stand up.
The bill, adopted in early July, aimed to loosen the rules for farmers and accelerated projects such as water storage. It was supported by the government and the main unions, but met with fierce opposition from scientists, health experts and green groups.
At the heart of indignation was acetamipride, a pesticide prohibited in France since 2018 for its role in the damage of bees and other pollinators. Farmers, especially producers of sugar beets, had put pressure for his return.
But the Court judged that the proposal was not strict sufficiently and ignored France’s constitutional commitment to environmental protection.
The backlash has been rapid and widespread. A petition led by students against the law led to more than 2 million signatures – one of the largest in French history. The opponents said that the bill had been precipitated by Parliament with no debate and warned that it endangered public health and biodiversity.
The decision is a blow for the government of President Emmanuel Macron, who had defended the bill until the end.
Critics qualified the victory decision for democracy and the planet. Some legislators have already promised to put pressure for a complete repeal in the coming months.
Acetamiprid is currently approved by the European Union until 2033 and authorized in other member countries.
