Repost — content from Vert, the media that calls it like it is
Exclusive: France is the European Union country that grants the most derogations for unapproved pesticides. According to our investigation, the Ministry of Agriculture issued at least 137 derogations in 2025, and more than 150 in 2026.
Based on European law, these derogations, lasting a maximum of 120 days, are meant to allow agricultural sectors to deal with a “danger that cannot be controlled by other reasonable means.”
But associations such as France Nature Environnement, Générations Futures and POLLINIS denounce a “circumvention” of the expertise of health authorities, while agricultural sectors see it as a way out of “technical dead ends.”
Read Esteban Grépinet’s investigation in full 
https://l.vert.eco/Ig
LinkedIn Sources
- Profile: Pierre Jean Duvivier dit Sage (LinkedIn)
- Shared author: Vert, the media that calls it like it is (LinkedIn)
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Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Frances Use of Derogations for Unapproved Pesticides
1 What is this investigation about
Its a report finding that France has granted more emergency exemptions for unapproved pesticides than any other EU countryat least 137 of them
2 What is a derogation for pesticides
Its a temporary permission that lets farmers use a pesticide not approved at the EU level usually when no approved alternative exists for a specific crop problem
3 Why does France grant so many
French authorities say farmers need them to protect crops when no approved alternative is available Critics say the system is being overused
4 How does the EU approval process work
Pesticide active substances must be approved at the EU level then each member state authorizes products for use on its territory
5 What is an unapproved pesticide
A pesticide whose active substance is not approved for use in the EU or a product not authorized in that country
6 Are these derogations legal
YesEU rules allow member states to grant temporary emergency authorizations under certain conditions such as when no other solution exists
7 How long does a derogation last
Typically up to 120 days though they can sometimes be renewed
8 Why is this controversial
Because emergency exemptions are meant to be rare exceptions and repeated use can undermine the EUs safety approval system
9 What are the main concerns
Potential health and environmental risks from pesticides that havent gone through full EU review plus concerns about fairness in the single market
10 What kinds of pesticides are involved
The report covers various substances including some linked to health or environmental concerns used on crops like fruits and vegetables
11 Which crops rely most on these exemptions
Typically specialty cropssuch as certain fruits vegetables and vineswhere few approved alternatives exist
12 How does France compare with other EU countries
According to the investigation France has issued the most derogations of any member stateat least 137
13 Who decides whether to grant a derogation
In France the Ministry of Agriculture grants them based on requests and assessments of whether alternatives exist
14 What do farmers say
Many farmers argue derogations are essential to avoid crop losses when no effective approved product is available
