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France farm bill passes, minister Barbut stays

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-26 05:36 UTC → 2026-07-26 16:46 UTC · added removed

The emergency agricultural law was approved by the National Assembly in the early hours of on 21 July 2026 (296‑224, 41 abstentions) and by the Senate on 22 July with a 214‑111 vote. The bill creates July, creating a three‑year derogation allowing that lets ANSES to grant issue tightly‑controlled waivers for the neonicotinoids acetamiprid (hazelnuts) and flupyradifurone (sugar beets, apples, cherries), a measure intended to support a few struggling sectors. cherries). Environment minister Monique Barbut announced on LinkedIn that she would resign a resignation in protest, calling the clause an “environmental regression too far.” protest but remained after President Emmanuel Macdonald refused her resignation, and Barbut subsequently confirmed she would remain in her post to continue work on the law’s other provisions. Macron’s intervention. The left‑wing LFI party has referred the pesticide exemption to the Constitutional Council. Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, denounced Since the law as a disgrace and pledged legal action; a petition against vote, the exemption measure has gathered over two million signatures. Beekeeping organisations such as UNAF warned been reinforced by the European Commission’s authorization of “very high mortality rates” for bees, acetamiprid and Greenpeace France called by France’s domestic “law Duplomb,” which confirms the decision “scandalous, irrational allowance under strict conditions. Regional politician Daniel Cueff criticised the law as a “major ecological and irresponsible.” health regression,” citing risks to pollinators, biodiversity and water quality. Agricultural unions and the sugar industry argue the exemptions are necessary for crop protection. The FNSEA farmers’ union praised support the law waivers as a victory, essential for crop protection, while Greenpeace France, UNAF and agriculture minister Annie Genevard described it as providing “real other environmental groups have organized petitions, legal actions and tangible solutions” for growers. protests, warning of high bee mortality. The law broader bill also contains measures includes provisions on water‑storage expansion, water storage, livestock protection, wolf predation and unfair competition. Meanwhile, a broader debate has emerged as the EU permits limited neonicotinoid use. French farmers and researchers are seeking alternatives, competition, and the vegetable sector’s inter‑profession Unilot has launched the five‑year ACOMPLI programme, funded with €5.7 million, to develop programme seeks biological controls for lepidopteran pests. pest‑control alternatives.

Versions

  1. 2026-07-26 16:46 UTC France farm bill passes, minister Barbut stays
  2. 2026-07-26 05:36 UTC France farm bill passes, minister Barbut stays

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