Politics & Governance
French environment minister stays after attempted resignation over pesticide bill
France's environment minister, Monique Barbut, said she would remain in her post as long as she could act on key issues such as climate change, hours after resigning over parliament's approval of a bill allowing the restricted return of two banned insecticides.
Barbut announced on Wednesday morning that she was leaving after parliament approved the reintroduction of two pesticides to help farmers. She said she was angered by the lack of debate before the vote. Her move came after the opposition accused the government of failing to prepare for more frequent heatwaves, which scientists link to human-caused climate change.
Barbut told Les Echos newspaper on Wednesday evening that she would stay if she had guarantees that she could take action. She also said her ministry would lead France's plan to adapt to climate change, but added that this would be her first and last experience in politics.
Her office said she had submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, but that he did not accept it and assured her of his support. Her team said she would stay because of the urgency of addressing the consequences of climate change.
France has had three severe heatwaves so far this year. The source reported that they caused thousands of excess deaths, closed schools, fuelled wildfires and dried up riverbeds.
Green leader Marine Tondelier said Barbut's attempted resignation exposed what she called the government's inability to do the minimum on environmental issues. Fanny Metrat, a spokesperson for the left-leaning farmers' union Confederation Paysanne, said Barbut's move showed what she described as a lack of long-term climate adaptation strategy.
The agriculture bill approved on Tuesday allows France's health and safety agency to authorise, in some cases, the use of acetamiprid and flupyradifurone, two pesticides previously banned in France. Supporters say sugar beet, apple and hazelnut farmers need them to compete with farmers elsewhere in Europe. Opponents say the pesticides are dangerous to bees and human health. The pesticides are permitted in the European Union, but member countries can restrict their use.
The source also said France's Constitutional Council last year struck down a provision in another bill seeking to reintroduce acetamiprid, saying it posed risks to human health, after more than two million people signed a petition against it.
Update
Monique Barbut told Les Echos she would stay as long as she had a guarantee she could act on key issues, including climate change.
Her office said President Emmanuel Macron did not accept her resignation and assured her of his support.
Her team said she would remain because of the urgency of dealing with the consequences of climate change.
The source adds reactions from Marine Tondelier and Fanny Metrat, and details of the agriculture bill and the pesticides involved.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 18:26:28 UTC.
Update
Barbut said on LinkedIn that the government prevented debate on removing the pesticide measure despite commitments made to her.
Her office said Macron assured her of his support after not accepting her resignation.
The agriculture bill gives France's health and safety agency authority to authorise some use of acetamiprid and flupyradifurone.
The source adds reactions from Marine Tondelier, Fanny Metrat and Francois Veillerette.
The source adds details on France's recent heatwaves and the earlier Constitutional Council ruling on acetamiprid.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 12:15:57 UTC.
Update
Monique Barbut submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron did not accept the resignation.
Barbut's disagreement concerned a bill on pesticides harmful to bees.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 10:27:52 UTC.
Update
France's environment minister will stay in office, according to her office.
Her office cited the urgency of acting on climate.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 10:18:14 UTC.
Update
Barbut said the reversal was one environmental setback too many.
Barbut previously headed WWF France and served as executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The bill gives Anses authority to conditionally authorise acetamiprid and flupyradifurone.
Supporters say French sugar beet, apple and hazelnut farmers need the insecticides to compete with European counterparts.
The pesticides are allowed in the European Union, though individual countries can restrict their use.
Opponents say the pesticides are dangerous to bees and human health.
Barbut said scientific studies continue to raise doubts about acetamiprid's effects on human health and the environment.
The Constitutional Council struck down a previous attempt to reintroduce acetamiprid after more than two million people signed a petition against it.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 07:30:02 UTC.
Update
Monique Barbut said the government had prevented debate on removing the pesticide measure.
Barbut said repeal of the measure was also supported by members of parliament.
The statement was posted on LinkedIn.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 07:03:25 UTC.
Update
France's environment minister says she will resign Wednesday over the pesticide bill.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 06:57:35 UTC.
Update
The Senate backed the bill by 214 votes to 111 after the National Assembly approved it earlier Tuesday.
The bill concerns acetamiprid and flupyradifurone, which have been forbidden in France since 2018 and 2019 respectively but are allowed in the European Union.
Proponents say the pesticides are needed by French sugar beet, apple and hazelnut farmers to compete with European counterparts.
The source adds criticism from Greenpeace and Henri Clement of the French Beekeeping Union.
The report cites research on acetamiprid's effects on honeybees and a 2024 study suggesting flupyradifurone could be lethal to some bees.
The Constitutional Council last year struck down a provision in another bill seeking to reintroduce acetamiprid after more than two million people signed a petition against it.
The left said it would appeal to the Constitutional Council if the Senate approved the measure.
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard defended the bill and said health authorities would approve use only in certain areas and for limited periods under stated conditions.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 18:59:09 UTC.
Update
Lawmakers approved a law on Tuesday allowing pesticides described as harmful to bees to return to use.
Monique Barbut told aides she saw no option but to present her resignation.
Barbut intended to submit her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron by early Wednesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 18:13:21 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The future use of the pesticides in France depends on authorisation decisions by the health and safety agency in specific cases.
Source
AFP news report published on .