The French parliament passed legislation on Tuesday permitting the reauthorization of two pesticides—acetamiprid and flupyradifurone—that had been banned in the country but remain legal in the EU. The law grants France’s food and environmental safety agency authority to issue exemptions allowing use of these chemicals in specific agricultural sectors facing crop damage from aphid-borne diseases, including sugar beet, apple, hazelnut, and cherry production. Lawmakers included the pesticide provision late in the legislative process, and the measure won senate approval by a vote of 214 to 111.
Beekeepers and environmental organizations have mounted strong opposition to the law, citing scientific evidence that both compounds harm bee populations. Acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, has documented neurotoxic effects that reduce bee foraging capacity and memory function. A 2024 scientific study indicated flupyradifurone poses lethal risks to honeybees. Industry representatives described the legislation using terms including “scandalous,” “irrational,” and “irresponsible,” noting that bee populations already face pressure from climate change, parasites, and habitat loss.
France’s environment minister, Monique Barbut, characterized the bill as an environmental setback and submitted her resignation on Wednesday, though she reversed that decision following a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. Greenpeace France stated the government was disregarding scientific evidence and public opinion. However, agricultural representatives and the government’s agriculture minister defended the measure as necessary to support struggling farm sectors and maintain competitiveness within Europe.
Historical data indicates French honey production declined significantly since neonicotinoids were introduced in the mid-1990s, dropping by approximately half by the mid-2010s, though multiple factors contributed to this decline. The beekeeping union, environmental groups, and opposition lawmakers have announced plans to refer the new law to the constitutional council, challenging whether it provides sufficient protections for human health and the environment. The agriculture ministry stated that pesticide use would be restricted to specific areas for limited periods and only when no viable alternatives exist and no impact on human health or the environment is anticipated.
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