French Parliament restores water measures in agricultural emergency bill

After a brief setback in the sustainability committee, French deputies voted on 19 May to reinstate two key water‑related articles in the agricultural emergency bill. The restored provisions strengthen compensation rules for wetland restoration and impose a new obligation on prefects to regulate farming practices in the most polluted drinking‑water catchment zones, including possible pesticide bans.

At the same time, right‑wing and far‑right legislators raised the issue of re‑introducing the banned neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid, which is absent from the bill. They criticised the government for not addressing the pesticide, calling for an amendment that would allow controlled use. The government, led by Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard and Environment Minister Mathieu Lefèvre, defended the text’s focus on water and livestock measures, noting that other articles permit restrictions on imports with pesticide residues. A final vote on the full bill is scheduled for 2 June.