France Reauthorizes Acetamiprid Pesticide, Raising Health and Environmental Concerns

The European Commission recently authorized the continued use of the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid (acetamipride) in certain crops, citing agricultural productivity goals. In France, the measure has been reaffirmed through the domestic "law Duplomb," which permits the substance under specific conditions.

Opposition leaders such as Daniel Cueff, vice‑president of the Brittany Region and former mayor of Langouët, denounced the law as a major ecological and health regression. Cueff warned that the decision ignores scientific warnings about risks to human health, pollinators, biodiversity, water quality and soil health, and argued that it favours chemical‑dependent farming over sustainable alternatives.

The debate highlights a broader conflict between European‑wide agricultural competitiveness pressures and French public demand for stricter pesticide controls, with industry groups like the FNSEA supporting the substance for market reasons while environmental advocates call for a ban.