France legalises EU-approved pesticides, prompting minister to resign
A French minister has announced her resignation after lawmakers voted to reintroduce two pesticides banned at home but permitted across the EU, exposing a deep divide between agricultural competitiveness and environmental protections.
The French parliament has approved legislation reintroducing two bee-harming pesticides, prompting a senior minister to announce her resignation. Monique Barbut told aides on Tuesday night she had no option but to quit, adding she intended to submit her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron by early Wednesday. The right-leaning Senate backed the bill by 214 votes to 111, following earlier approval in the National Assembly.
The legislation reverses domestic bans on acetamiprid and flupyradifurone implemented in 2018 and 2019. Proponents argue the move is an economic necessity for French sugar beet, apple and hazelnut farmers to remain competitive within the bloc, as the same insecticides are permitted elsewhere in the European Union. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has defended the bill as a necessary response to address discontent among farmers after protests over the winter.
The political coalition driving the bill highlights shifting priorities in Paris, uniting centrists and the far right against a left-wing opposition that voted against the measure. Senator Laurent Duplomb, who championed the legislation, praised the outcome. The left has already stated it will appeal to the Constitutional Council following the Senate's vote.
This legal challenge carries weight given recent history. Last year, the same court struck down a previous attempt by Duplomb to reintroduce acetamiprid, citing risks to human health after a petition gathered more than two million signatures. Research indicates acetamiprid impairs honeybee memory and foraging, while a 2024 study suggested flupyradifurone can be lethal to certain bees.
“The government and its allies are trampling on science, health, the environment, and the will of the people,” Greenpeace said. Henri Clement of the French Beekeeping Union described the measure as “absolutely catastrophic”.
To mitigate legal risks, Genevard stressed that authorities would limit the insecticides to specific areas for short periods. She stated use would only be approved in emergencies where no alternative exists, provided there is no impact on human health or the environment. Despite these caveats, Barbut's resignation signals deep internal fractures over the balance between agricultural competitiveness and environmental safeguards.
