French Bee‑Killer Pesticide Revival Met with Million‑Strong Protest
A New Petition Sparks a Heated Debate Over a Banned Bee Killer
French citizens have launched a massive petition urging lawmakers to rescind a new rule that would re‑legalise a pesticide known to endanger pollinators. The so‑called « Duplomb law » would allow the use of acetamiprid, a chemical banned in France since 2018 but still legal across the European Union.
Rising Public Alarm Over a Controversial Chemical
- Over a million signatures were collected by Sunday—more than 500,000 in just two days—showing the scale of public concern.
- Beekeepers have dubbed the insecticide a “bee killer”, while growers of beet and hazelnut crops claim they have no alternative options amid unfair competition.
- Despite the legal status within the EU, French experts worry acetamiprid poses risks to both biodiversity and human health, though large‑scale studies are still pending.
Opposition and Support in the National Assembly
Proponents argue that farmers face excessive regulation, and that allowing farmers to use acetamiprid again would ease constraints. National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun‑Pivet cautioned against abandoning the legislation, stating that the law would “save a certain number of our farmers.”
Eleonore Pattery, the student behind the petition and self‑described “future environmental health professional,” called the law a “scientific, ethical, environmental and public health aberration.” She warned that the proposal would “represent a frontal attack on public health, biodiversity, the coherence of climate policies, food security, and common sense.”
What a Petition Can Trigger in France
Under French rules, a petition that reaches 500,000 verified signatures may prompt the National Assembly to hold a public debate limited to the petition’s content. Speaker Braun‑Pivet indicated she would support such a debate, but reiterated that lawmakers “could not in any case go back on the law which has been voted through.”
Although petitions do not automatically trigger a repeal, the unprecedented public backing may prompt renewed parliamentary discussion on the matter.
A Shift in the Context of French Agriculture
In late June, before the law’s passage, several thousand demonstrators—including farmers, environmental organisations and scientists—rallied across France, calling for the bill to be withdrawn. The current petition, launched on July 10, has rapidly gained support from many including actors and several left‑wing lawmakers.
As the debate continues, French lawmakers face a stark choice: protect the countryside’s bees and the wider ecosystem, or keep the door open for a chemical that farmers say is their only defense against pests.
