France's agricultural emergency law sparks constitutional challenge

The French Parliament approved the "law of urgent agricultural action" (often called "Loi Duplomb 2") on 21 July 2026, with the National Assembly voting 296‑224 and the Senate 214‑111. The measure authorises, under strict conditions, limited re‑authorisation of two pesticides banned in France – acetamipride for hazelnut growers and flupyradifurone for beet, apple and cherry farms – and introduces new rules for the management of water‑capture sites.

Opposition parties – La France Insoumise, ecologists and some left‑wing deputies – have filed a constitutional appeal, arguing that the pesticide provisions and water‑management clauses are “cavaliers législatifs” lacking adequate environmental safeguards. The Conseil constitutionnel has a month to rule.

The law also triggered a political episode involving environment minister Monique Barbut, who announced her resignation after the government rejected a parliamentary amendment to remove the pesticide re‑authorisation. Barbut wrote on LinkedIn that the government’s stance represented “a step back for the environment”. President Emmanuel Macron refused her resignation, describing the dispute as a “disagreement over the agricultural law”.

Critics, including agricultural unions, environmental NGOs and the Medef, warn that the law could privilege large agribusiness interests, diminish public participation in water‑resource decisions and threaten biodiversity. Supporters claim it safeguards French agricultural sovereignty amid declining yields in several crops.