ISTANBUL

A newly adopted law in France allowing the restricted use of a previously banned pesticide sparked public outrage on Thursday, with critics warning it could cause serious environmental and health damage.

A petition has been submitted to the French parliament, or the National Assembly, demanding debate over the so-called “Duplomb Law,” named after the senator who introduced the bill, Ouest-France reported.

The petition, supported by environmental groups and opposition figures, has gathered nearly 2 million signatures.

It targets the legislation that authorizes the limited use of acetamiprid, a pesticide banned in France since 2015 but still approved in some other EU countries.

Opponents call the law “a deviation from scientific, environmental, and public health standards.”

Critics argue that the law fails to address key challenges facing farmers, such as low wages and unfair competition. The government, however, defends the move by citing the chemical’s usage in other European countries and stressing its importance for France’s “food sovereignty.”

The bill lifting certain agricultural restrictions on pesticide use was introduced in November 2024 by a group of Republican lawmakers, led by Senator Laurent Duplomb.

Dubbed the “Duplomb Law” by the French press, it was passed in parliament on July 8 with 316 votes in favor and 223 against. Twenty-five lawmakers abstained.

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.