France’s highest constitutional court has blocked the return of a pesticide harmful to ecosystems, declaring the move unconstitutional.
The Thursday night ruling is a setback for the government after weeks of protests from left-wing groups, environmentalists, and doctors, along with a petition against the bill that collected a record 2 million signatures. The proposed law would have reinstated a pesticide banned in France since 2020.
Named after conservative lawmaker Laurent Duplomb who introduced it, the “Duplomb law” was pitched as helping French farmers who complain about red tape, unfair foreign competition, and strict pesticide rules.
But the constitutional court rejected the plan to bring back acetamiprid—a chemical toxic to bees and other pollinators—ruling it violated France’s environmental charter protecting the “right to live in a balanced and healthy environment.” The court also questioned water reservoir provisions in the bill.
President Emmanuel Macron’s office said he “took note of the decision” and would quickly approve the bill without the disputed sections.
Green Party leader Marine Tondelier called the ruling a relief, while the Socialist Party said it condemned the government’s “irresponsibility.”
Beet and hazelnut farmers had pushed for the pesticide’s return, claiming they lacked alternatives against pests and faced unfair competition from EU countries where acetamiprid remains legal. Some argued it was needed to combat virus yellows, which reduced yields by 30% in 2020.
Opponents called the measure a “direct threat to public health.” Beekeepers labeled the chemical a “bee killer,” and while human health risks remain unclear without large-scale studies, concerns persist.
A student-led petition against the bill gained over 2 million signatures after lawmakers fast-tracked it through a divided parliament on July 8 without proper debate.
[Agence France-Presse contributed to this report]
