Pesticide risks and organic food mandates face scrutiny in France and Belgium

In France, the 2018 EGalim law, which mandates that 50% of products in collective catering be sustainable—including 20% organic—is failing to meet its targets. Data from the government website ‘Ma Cantine’ reveals that in public institutions such as ministries, prisons, and state-owned companies like SNCF and EDF, only 12.8% of products are organic. Nationally, less than 7% of purchases in collective catering are organic. A coalition of associations has launched a legal challenge to address this lack of progress and the absence of effective national control mechanisms.

Parallel to these regulatory struggles, debates continue regarding the scientific and social management of pesticide risks. Discussions in Belgium have highlighted the complexities of establishing acceptable risk thresholds and the impact of pesticides on biodiversity and human health. Experts have pointed to the scientific uncertainties, the influence of economic interests, and the often invisible health consequences faced by agricultural workers.