France’s highest legal authority has struck down a central provision of a recently passed farming law that sought to reintroduce acetamiprid, a pesticide banned in the country since 2018 due to its harmful effects on pollinators like bees.
In a ruling delivered Thursday, the Constitutional Council determined that the measure failed to adequately safeguard the environment and the rights of future generations, both of which are enshrined in France’s constitution. While the remainder of the legislation — known as the “Duplomb law” after its sponsoring senator — remains intact, the pesticide clause has been invalidated.
The legislation, approved in early July, aimed to ease environmental restrictions for farmers and expedite agricultural infrastructure projects such as water reservoirs. It was strongly supported by the French government and leading agricultural unions but faced significant resistance from scientists, health professionals, and environmental organizations.
At the core of the dispute was the proposed reauthorization of acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide long criticized for its detrimental impact on biodiversity. Sugar beet farmers had lobbied for its return, citing crop protection concerns.
However, the court ruled that the proposal lacked sufficient regulatory safeguards and failed to align with France’s constitutional obligation to environmental preservation.
Public outcry had already mounted ahead of the ruling. A student-led petition opposing the law amassed over 2 million signatures — one of the largest in the nation’s history. Critics condemned the legislative process as rushed and insufficiently deliberative, warning that the measure posed serious risks to public health and biodiversity.
The court’s decision deals a significant setback to President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, which had continued to defend the bill in the face of growing opposition. Environmental advocates and opposition lawmakers hailed the ruling as a critical victory for democratic accountability and ecological protection.
While the European Union has authorized the use of acetamiprid until 2033, and it remains legal in several other member states, France will maintain its national ban following this legal defeat.
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