The Bee-Killing Bill? France’s Loi Duplomb Sparks Nationwide Uproar Over Pesticide Comeback

As France reopens the door to once-banned toxic pesticides, a citizen-led movement is rising in defense of health, biodiversity, and the future of farming.

A Law to “Free” Farmers — But at What Cost?

This summer, France passed the controversial Loi Duplomb, a sweeping agricultural bill named after right-wing senator Laurent Duplomb. Marketed as a “simplification” of farming regulations, the law promises to reduce red tape for farmers, ease construction of agricultural infrastructure, and loosen environmental checks.

But buried in the legal language is a deeply troubling provision: the reintroduction of acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide previously banned in France due to its devastating impact on bees and biodiversity. The law also reduces the independence of France’s public environmental and health agencies, including the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) and ANSES, the national health and safety agency.

In short, what is being pitched as farmer-friendly reform is, to many, an ecological backslide — and it’s igniting a firestorm of public resistance.

Why Is the Loi Duplomb So Controversial?

1. Return of Dangerous Pesticides

Acetamiprid, although still allowed in the EU until 2033, was previously banned in France due to its proven toxicity to pollinators, especially bees. Classified as a neurotoxic chemical, it disrupts memory, learning, and navigation in insects. Studies have shown it can also persist in soil and water, with traces found in pollen and nectar — ultimately infiltrating the food chain.

Health professionals have raised red flags about risks to children’s brain development and long-term exposure to synthetic chemicals. In fact, over 1,000 doctors, researchers, and organizations — including the French Cancer League and CNRS — have warned the government about the public health dangers of this legislative shift.

2. Erosion of the Precautionary Principle

Environmental groups argue that the law marks a dangerous reversal of France’s commitments to sustainability and ecological protection. France was once a leader in banning bee-killing pesticides and advancing organic and regenerative farming. Now, critics say, the country is undermining its own climate and biodiversity goals.

3. Lobbying Over Science

Behind the scenes, many suspect the heavy hand of agricultural lobbying groups like the FNSEA, France’s largest farming union. They argue that strict pesticide bans put French farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared to imports from less-regulated countries.

Yet opponents say this “race to the bottom” not only endangers the environment, but weakens France’s agricultural sovereignty in the long run.

What’s at Stake for Nature and the Planet?

• Pollinator Collapse: Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are essential for more than 70% of global crops. Their decline could directly impact food production and global food security.

• Soil and Water Contamination: Neonicotinoids don’t disappear — they accumulate in soil and waterways, disrupting ecosystems and harming aquatic life.

• Biodiversity Breakdown: Pesticides like acetamiprid can affect non-target species across entire food webs, leading to cascading effects throughout ecosystems.

• Public Health Risks: Beyond ecological harm, the potential neurodevelopmental effects on children and links to cancer have not been fully assessed.

What’s most concerning to many scientists is that the benefits of reintroducing such chemicals are short-term and narrowly economic, while the long-term costs — to nature, people, and the planet — are incalculable.

The People Push Back: Protests, Tractors, and a Petition Milestone

The backlash has been swift and powerful. Farmers from the Confédération Paysanne, environmental NGOs, students, scientists, beekeepers, and ordinary citizens have joined forces in a rare show of unity. Tractors have surrounded government buildings in protest. Banners read: “No future without pollinators.”

But the biggest impact may come from the digital front.

On July 10, 23-year-old student Éléonore Pattery launched an online petition calling for the repeal of the Loi Duplomb. In less than 8 days, it gathered over 200,000 signatures. By July 19, it had surpassed 500,000 — a historic record on the French National Assembly’s platform. By July 20, the number was already over 1 million and still growing fast.

This mass mobilization has now triggered a formal parliamentary review, as required by French law when petitions hit the half-million mark.

What Do These Signatures Mean?

This isn’t just symbolic. Crossing the 500,000 threshold forces France’s National Assembly to address the issue publicly. The debate — expected in the autumn session — could reopen the law for potential revision or repeal.

While the petition does not guarantee a vote, it signals a massive disconnect between political leadership and public sentiment — especially among youth, scientists, and eco-conscious citizens.

It’s a modern-day democratic success story: in the age of environmental despair, people are rising up — digitally and physically — to protect biodiversity, health, and the future of food.

Hope on the Horizon: A Lesson in Collective Power

The Loi Duplomb may have passed, but the story is far from over. This groundswell of citizen resistance shows how public pressure, informed science, and cross-sector solidarity can push back against harmful policy — even after it’s been written into law.

France now finds itself at a crossroads: continue down a path that prioritizes chemical convenience and industrial lobbying — or pivot toward a future built on agroecology, health, and ecological stewardship.

What this moment teaches us is simple but powerful:

When people come together, even the most toxic decisions can be challenged. The tide can turn — and it’s already beginning.

Want to add your voice?

If you're a French citizen and wish to support the repeal of the Loi Duplomb, you can sign the official petition here:
👉 Sign the petition on the Assemblée Nationale website

Every signature counts in the fight to protect biodiversity, public health, and our shared future.