The contested bill permitted the renewed use of acetamiprid, a chemical pesticide that had previously been banned in France due to potential risks to bees and biodiversity. The measure was part of a broader law aimed at reducing administrative burdens on farmers, but specifically the reintroduction of this insecticide sparked fierce social and political controversy.
Supporters, including many farmers' organizations, welcomed the plans. They emphasized that acetamiprid is an alternative to stronger agents and would be necessary to combat pests in food cultivation. Opponents, including environmental organizations, warned of ecological dangers and described it as a step backward in environmental protection.
The law was introduced by a conservative senator and had earlier been approved by the French parliament. However, the decision to allow acetamiprid again faced strong resistance. The grassroots action that followed received broad support and was signed by millions of French citizens in less than two weeks, which is exceptional for a petition of this size.
The final block did not come directly from the Senate, but from the Constitutional Council, which declared the passage regarding acetamiprid invalid. The council ruled that the law on this point was not consistent with the French constitution, making the reintroduction legally impossible. The Senate acknowledged this ruling and adopted the correction.
Although the rest of the law — including measures for administrative simplification in agriculture — remained intact, the removal of the pesticide section was seen as an important political signal. It demonstrates that pressure from society can have an effect, even when legislation is already advanced in the parliamentary process.
The French government had previously remained neutral in the public debate on this issue. Nevertheless, the affair was seen as a risk to the president’s image, who presents himself as an advocate for environmental protection but also does not want to alienate the agricultural sector.
The Senate’s decision means a provisional end to attempts to allow acetamiprid again in French agriculture. Whether new proposals will follow remains unclear for now.