France debates neonicotinoid pesticide restrictions amid EU policy clash

French farmers and researchers are racing to replace dwindling pesticide options as the European Union permits limited use of neonicotinoids such as acetamiprid for crops like sugar beet and hazelnuts. The French public worries about health risks, while agribusiness lobbies argue the chemicals are essential for competitiveness.

In response, France's parliament passed an emergency agricultural law that re‑authorises some previously banned pesticides. Simultaneously, the vegetable sector’s inter‑profession Unilet launched the five‑year ACOMPLI programme, funded with €5.7 million, to develop biological control methods against lepidopteran pests that are spreading faster under climate change.

The debate highlights a clash between EU‑wide productivity goals and French demands for stricter health and environmental protections, with implications for domestic farming practices, export competitiveness, and future regulatory directions.