French pesticide plan draws anger from environmentalists

Environmentalists in France expressed anger Tuesday as parliament appeared set to allow some farmers to use two pesticides that are banned in France but permitted in the European Union.

The measure concerns acetamiprid and flupyradifurone, insecticides described in the report as harmful to bees. Acetamiprid has been banned in France since 2018, and flupyradifurone since 2019.

Environment Minister Monique Barbut could resign if the Senate approves the reintroduction of the two pesticides later Tuesday, her team has said.

Supporters of the change say French sugar beet, apple and hazelnut farmers need the insecticides to compete with farmers elsewhere in Europe. Opponents say the chemicals are dangerous to bees and to human health.

The National Assembly approved an agriculture bill early Tuesday that includes the measures. The right-leaning Senate was expected to support the bill in a final vote the same day.

The vote followed a decision last year by the Constitutional Council, France's highest court, to strike down a provision in another bill that sought to reintroduce acetamiprid. The court said the pesticide posed risks to human health. More than two million people had signed a petition against the measure.

After the National Assembly passed the farming bill, Greenpeace said the government and its allies were ignoring science, health, the environment and public will. Henri Clement of the French Beekeeping Union told regional media outlet Ici Gard Lozere that the measure was "absolutely catastrophic".

Research cited in the report found that acetamiprid can poison honey bees, affecting their foraging ability and memory. A 2024 study suggested flupyradifurone could be lethal to some bees.

Most left-wing lawmakers in the lower house voted against reintroducing the pesticides, but support from the far right and many centrists meant the measure passed. The left said it would appeal to the Constitutional Council if the Senate approved the measure.

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard defended the agriculture bill as necessary to address farmer discontent after protests this winter. She said health authorities would approve use of the pesticides only in certain areas and for limited periods, and only if there was no impact on human health or the environment, an emergency situation existed, and there was no alternative.