France reauthorizes bee-harming pesticides despite environmental outcry

France's parliament has controversially approved a law permitting farmers to use two pesticides deemed harmful to bees, a decision that has sparked strong opposition from environmentalists and left-wing politicians. The right-leaning Senate passed the bill Tuesday evening, following approval by the National Assembly earlier that day.

The pesticides in question, acetamiprid and flupyradifurone, have been banned in France since 2018 and 2019, respectively. However, they remain permitted for use within the European Union. Proponents of the new law argue that growers of sugar beet, apples, and hazelnuts need these insecticides to compete with farmers in other European countries. They contend that health authorities will only permit their use in specific areas and for limited periods, provided there is no negative impact on human health or the environment and no other viable alternative exists.

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the government and its allies are trampling on science, health, the environment, and the will of the people.

Opponents, however, argue that these substances pose significant dangers to both bees and human health. Greenpeace issued a statement condemning the decision, stating that "the government and its allies are trampling on science, health, the environment, and the will of the people." This sentiment is amplified by the fact that a petition against the reauthorization of acetamiprid garnered over two million signatures last year.

Henri Clément of the French Beekeepers' Union called the law "absolutely catastrophic." The vote occurred after France's Constitutional Council, the country's highest court, overturned a provision in another law last year that would have reauthorized acetamiprid, citing risks to human health. The Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, defended the legislation as necessary to address farmer discontent following winter protests. Despite widespread opposition from left-wing lawmakers, the bill passed with support from right-wing and many centrist deputies. Left-wing parties have indicated they will appeal to the Constitutional Council again if the Senate approves the measure.

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absolutely catastrophic.