NextFin news, On August 7, 2025, in Paris, France's Constitutional Council declared unconstitutional the provision in the recently passed Duplomb law that sought to reintroduce the pesticide acetamiprid, banned since 2018 due to its harmful effects on bees and the environment.
The ruling followed a massive public petition led by 23-year-old master's student Eléonore Pattery, which gathered more than 2.1 million signatures opposing the pesticide's return. The petition described the measure as a "frontal attack on public health." The decision was announced on August 8, 2025, by the Constitutional Council, France's highest constitutional authority.
The Council found that allowing exemptions to the ban on neonicotinoid chemicals like acetamiprid violated Article 1 of France's Environmental Charter, which guarantees the right to live in a balanced and healthy environment. The Council cited the pesticide's negative impact on biodiversity, particularly pollinating insects and birds, as well as risks to water, soil quality, and human health.
The Duplomb law, adopted by the French Parliament on July 8, 2025, aimed to ease regulations for farmers, including permitting the construction of large water reservoirs and raising authorization thresholds for pig and poultry farms. However, the most contentious provision was the pesticide reintroduction, which supporters argued was necessary for French farmers, especially beet and hazelnut growers, to remain competitive within the European Union where acetamiprid remains legal.
Opponents, including environmental groups, scientists, and farmers, staged demonstrations across France in late June 2025, demanding the bill's withdrawal. The Constitutional Council ruled that the law lacked sufficient detail on the duration, application methods, and crop types affected by the pesticide use, undermining the constitutional right to a healthy environment.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the ruling and stated his intention to enact the law promptly in a form consistent with the Council's decision. The ruling removed only the pesticide provision, allowing other parts of the Duplomb law to proceed.
Jean-Claud Tissot, a French senator and farmer who filed an appeal against the law, said the ruling "stated the obvious, the truth" about the incompatibility of the pesticide provision with environmental protections. Conversely, right-wing politicians, including National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, criticized the decision as an overreach by the Constitutional Council.
The controversy reflects ongoing tensions in France between agricultural interests seeking deregulation and environmental and public health advocates demanding stricter protections. The case highlights the role of public pressure and constitutional law in shaping environmental policy in France.
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