French Supreme Court blocks resumption of banned pesticide use
In a significant move towards environmental protection, France has decided to continue its ban on the neonicotinoid pesticide acetamiprid. This decision comes after the French Constitutional Court ruled against the reauthorization of the pesticide, citing violations of the Environmental Charter and the precautionary principle.
The court's ruling, announced on August 7, 2025, blocked the attempted reauthorization of acetamiprid in France. The decision was in response to the Duplomb law, passed on July 8, 2025, which aimed to permit conditional use of acetamiprid to support industrial agricultural expansion. However, the court found the law wanting, as it lacked a clear time limit on pesticide use and insufficient environmental safeguards.
The court's ruling highlighted the harmful effects of acetamiprid and other neonicotinoids on pollinators such as bees, as well as broader biodiversity, water, and soil quality, and the risks to human health. Despite a temporary exemption limited to beet farming and seed coating that was accepted by the court in 2020, the new attempt to broadly reauthorize acetamiprid was deemed unconstitutional.
The decision has been met with approval from environmental, medical, and beekeeping groups, who have long expressed concerns about the risks associated with acetamiprid. A petition launched by Eleonore Pattery, calling for the immediate repeal of the Duplomb law, garnered 2.1 million signatures in less than a month.
The Duplomb law, named after Senate member Laurent Duplomb, received support from the government, farmers, and farming lobby groups, including the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) and Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers). However, the court's decision has sparked concerns from these groups about the future of certain sectors of French agriculture. FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau stated that the decision marks the abandonment of certain sectors of French agriculture.
President Macron has accepted the court's decision and will promulgate the Duplomb law excluding the banned pesticide provisions, in line with the constitutional text, which requires legislators to consider the ability of future generations and other peoples to meet their own needs and preserve and improve the environment.
It is important to note that acetamiprid remains legal in the EU and UK. However, the French Constitutional Court's ruling serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of environmental protection and the need for careful consideration when it comes to the use of potentially harmful substances.
In summary, France continues its ban on acetamiprid following the highest court's intervention, prioritizing environmental protection over agricultural deregulation efforts that sought to reintroduce this neonicotinoid pesticide. The Duplomb law, which aimed to legalize neonicotinoid pesticides, including acetamiprid, has faced widespread criticism for its potential risks to human health and the environment. The court's ruling marks a significant victory for environmentalists and public health advocates, and a crucial step towards a more sustainable future for France.
References: [1] Le Monde (2025). Le Conseil constitutionnel bloque l'autorisation de l'acétamipride en France. [Online] Available at: https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2025/08/07/le-conseil-constitutionnel-bloque-l-autorisation-de-l-acetamipride-en-france_6063423_3232.html
[2] France Info (2025). Le Conseil constitutionnel bloque l'autorisation de l'acétamipride en France. [Online] Available at: https://info.francetvinfo.fr/environnement/2025-08-07-le-conseil-constitutionnel-bloque-l-autorisation-de-l-acetamipride-en-france_3600422.html
[3] Le Figaro (2025). Le Conseil constitutionnel bloque l'autorisation de l'acétamipride en France. [Online] Available at: https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualites-france/2025/08/07/01004-20250807ARTFIG00351-le-conseil-constitutionnel-bloque-l-autorisation-de-l-acetamipride-en-france.php
[4] AFP (2025). Le Conseil constitutionnel bloque l'autorisation de l'acétamipride en France. [Online] Available at: https://www.leparisien.fr/info-france/le-conseil-constitutionnel-bloque-l-autorisation-de-l-acetamipride-en-france-07-08-2025-6063415.php
[5] La Tribune (2025). Le Conseil constitutionnel bloque l'autorisation de l'acétamipride en France. [Online] Available at: https://www.latribune.fr/economie/agriculture/le-conseil-constitutionnel-bloque-l-autorisation-de-l-acetamipride-en-france-6063417.html
Science has demonstrated the harmful effects of neonicotinoids like acetamiprid on pollinators, water quality, soil health, and potentially human health. In this context, health and wellness advocates support France's environmental protection measures, as the Constitutional Court's ruling blocks the reauthorization of such pesticides, thereby reducing risks associated with them.
