France Witnesses Petition with Over a Million Signatures Against Resumption of Pesticide Use - France sees over a million signatures on a petition aiming to halt the resurrection of pesticide usage
In a move that has sparked significant public opposition, the French parliament has passed a law allowing for the regulated reintroduction of acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide harmful to pollinators like bees. The decision, which was passed despite the controversy surrounding it, has led to the launch of a petition against its reintroduction by a 23-year-old student named Eléonore Pattery.
The petition, which quickly gained over 1.2 million signatures as of July 2025, has been described as a "scientific, ethical, ecological, and health mistake" by Ms. Pattery. The unprecedented public response has met the threshold for a potential debate in the Assemblée Nationale when it resumes in September, although the petition itself does not automatically trigger a legislative review or repeal.
The reintroduction of acetamiprid, a type of pesticide that was banned in France in 2018 but remains legal within the EU, has been a contentious issue due to its environmental and health impacts. The petition, which has also been supported by actors and several left-wing MPs, has never triggered a review of a law in recent French history.
Despite this, the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, has expressed support for a debate on the petition against the reintroduction of acetamiprid. If the petition gains 500,000 supporters, the National Assembly can hold a debate on the petition. However, as of the time of the article, a debate on the petition has not occurred in the National Assembly.
Yaël Braun-Pivet, however, has ruled out any changes to the law passed by the MPs regarding the reintroduction of acetamiprid. The law, adopted on July 8, has not yet come into effect.
The controversy surrounding the reintroduction of acetamiprid in France is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact on the environment and public health. The petition launched by Eléonore Pattery serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of public engagement in democratic processes.
- The 1.2 million strong petition, led by Eléonore Pattery, deems the regulated reintroduction of acetamiprid a "scientific, ethical, ecological, and health mistake," emphasizing the potential negative effects on the community's health and wellness, as well as the environment, particularly in the context of climate change.
- The petition's reach and support from various sectors, including environmental science, actors, and left-wing MPs, have highlighted the importance of health policy in the decision-making process of pesticide use, making it a crucial topic in the ongoing debate about neonicotinoid pesticides and their impact on public health.
