ISTANBUL 

A petition demanding the repeal of the controversial Duplomb law will be debated in the French National Assembly after gathering more than 2.13 million signatures, the parliamentary group La France Insoumise (LFI) announced on Wednesday.

"Historic first: a citizens’ petition enters the Assembly! The petition against the Duplomb law will be debated in committee. We will not stop until it is repealed," the left-wing group posted on the US social media company X.

The petition calls for the law's "immediate repeal," a democratic review of the circumstances surrounding its passage, and consultation with experts in health, agriculture, ecology, and law.

The law, introduced by Senator Laurent Duplomb and aligned with the demands of the powerful FNSEA farmers’ union, has fueled widespread controversy.

Critics denounce it as an unprecedented step backward for environmental protection.

At the heart of the opposition is the reauthorization of controversial pesticides, including neonicotinoids widely accused of devastating bee populations, pollinators, and biodiversity.

The text also eases restrictions on industrial farming and facilitates the creation of large water reservoirs, known as “megabassins,” by limiting legal challenges, sparking anger among environmental groups.

Alternative agricultural unions and NGOs argue the law prioritizes agro-industrial interests at the expense of public health, the environment, and small farmers.

The French press dubbed it the "Duplomb Law," and it passed in parliament on July 8 with 316 votes in favor and 223 against. Twenty-five lawmakers abstained.

It reauthorizes the use of controversial pesticides, including neonicotinoids accused of devastating bee populations, pollinators, and biodiversity.

- Farmer protests shook France last year

The law comes on the heels of widespread farmer protests last year, during which agricultural workers voiced anger over government policies and a planned free trade deal between the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

Farmers, who said the deal would lead to unfair competition and exacerbate existing restrictions in the sector, drove their tractors into Paris and blockaded the capital for days.

In response, the government pledged reforms and improvements to support the agricultural sector following negotiations with farmer unions.