The judges emphasized that neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides including acetamiprid that disrupts insects’ nervous systems, can only be used in exceptional cases, for limited durations, and on specific crops. The law’s text failed to meet these criteria, according to the judges.
Called “Loi Duplomb” after the conservative senator who proposed it, the law was a reaction to the massive farmer protests of 2024 and had already passed parliament.
Although supported by the government and major farming groups, the law is strongly contested by left-wing parties due to its detrimental effects on biodiversity.
A petition to repeal the law, initiated by a 23-year-old student, has garnered over 2 million signatures, increasing pressure on the government.
The law has divided French public opinion between influential farming lobbies and ecologically concerned citizens worried about pesticide impacts on pollinators and human health. Critics have urged President Emmanuel Macron to refrain from signing it.
Macron’s office announced Thursday that the president has acknowledged the ruling and intends to enact the modified Duplomb law as soon as possible, in line with the constitutional court’s decision. Consequently, acetamiprid will remain prohibited.
Leave a Reply