Latest news with #pesticide
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
French government faces a buzzkill: One million petitioners say ‘no' to bee killer pesticide
PARIS, July 22 — More than a million people Sunday had signed a petition urging the French government to ditch a law allowing the reintroduction of a banned pesticide experts say is deadly to bees. The so-called 'Duplomb law' has stirred public anger for permitting a return of acetamiprid — a chemical known to be toxic to pollinators such as bees and to ecosystems. It was adopted on July 8 but has not yet come into effect. A 23-year-old master's student launched the petition against the law on July 10, with support quickly snowballing with the backing of many including actors and several left-wing lawmakers. More than 500,000 people signed it in 24 hours from Saturday and Sunday alone. The law's proponents however argue farmers face too much regulation in France as is, and allowing them to use acetamiprid again would help reduce the constraints they face. National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet on Sunday ruled out abandoning the legislation, named after the conservative lawmaker who proposed it, as it would 'save a certain number of our farmers'. The petition's author, Eleonore Pattery, who describes herself as 'a future environmental health professional', called the new law a 'scientific, ethical, environmental and public health aberration'. 'It represents a frontal attack on public health, biodiversity, the coherence of climate policies, food security, and common sense,' she said. 'Bee killer' Acetamiprid has been banned in France since 2018, but remains legal within the European Union. The insecticide is particularly sought after by beet and hazelnut growers, who say they have no alternative against pests and face unfair competition. On the other hand, beekeepers have branded the chemical 'a bee killer'. French scientists who have studied its disorientating effects on bees confirm it is toxic to them. Its effects on humans are also a source of concern but, in the absence of large-scale studies, its risks remain unclear. The petition calls for the 'immediate repeal' of the law and a 'citizen-led consultation involving health, agricultural, environmental and legal stakeholders'. Launched on July 10, two days after the Senate adopted the text, it had already passed 500,000 signatures on Saturday. Appeal to Macron Petitions do not in themselves trigger a review or repeal of the legislation but unprecedented public support may prompt renewed parliamentary discussion on the matter. Under French rules, if a petition reaches 500,000 verified signatures, the National Assembly may choose to hold a public debate limited to the content of the petition itself. Speaker Braun-Pivet told the broadcaster franceinfo on Sunday she would be in favour of such a debate, but lawmakers 'could not in any case go back on the law which has been voted through'. President Emmanuel Macron does have the power to send the text back for deputies to re-examine it, and on Sunday Green party leader Marine Tondelier appealed to him to do just that in a video posted online. In late June, ahead of the law's passage, several thousand demonstrators—including farmers, environmental organisations and scientists — rallied across France calling for the bill to be withdrawn. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
French farm bill sparks record-breaking petition signatures
Launched by a 23-year-old student this month, the petition against the farm bill gathered 1.3 million signatures by Monday morning. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : A petition against a French farm bill loosening environmental rules for farming, including over the use of a pesticide accused of harming bees, has set a record for signatures, increasing pressure on the government to revisit the law. Launched by a 23-year-old student this month, the petition poses a fresh challenge for president Emmanuel Macron, already under strain over his cost-cutting budget. It had gathered 1.3 million signatures by Monday morning, becoming the first petition on the National Assembly website to surpass 500,000. In France, petitions with over half a million signatures can prompt a parliamentary debate, but do not require a new vote. National Assembly chairwoman Yael Braun-Pivet and former prime minister Gabriel Attal are among those who have said they would back a debate. The draft law, proposed by conservative Laurent Duplomb, would reauthorise the use of neonicotinoid pesticide acetamiprid, one of a group that European food safety agency EFSA has assessed as representing a risk to bees. It also aims to simplify approvals for livestock breeding facilities, and to ease irrigation rules. The petition, however, calls it a 'scientific, ethical, environmental, and health aberration'. French farmers protested in Paris in May against amendments filed by opposition lawmakers to the bill, which it said would help them compete with EU peers. France is the EU's top sugar beet grower and home to major producers such as Tereos and Cristal Union. Growers argue that acetamiprid, allowed in other EU countries, is vital to fight yellows disease, which cut yields by 30% in 2020 and slashed sugar output. 'We need to maintain our means of production, and I believe there's a lot of exaggeration in the comments being made,' the head of France's largest farm union FNSEA Arnaud Rousseau told franceinfo radio. The government defended the bill, but acknowledged the outcry. 'We must listen (to this petition),' government spokesman Sophie Primas said. 'Perhaps we haven't explained or reassured enough. The aim of this law is to put French farmers back on an equal footing with their European counterparts.'
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
French farm bill sparks record-breaking petition signatures
PARIS, July 21 (Reuters) - A petition against a French farm bill loosening environmental rules for farming, including over the use of a pesticide accused of harming bees, has set a record for signatures, increasing pressure on the government to revisit the law. Launched by a 23-year-old student this month, the petition, opens new tab poses a fresh challenge for President Emmanuel Macron, already under strain over his cost-cutting budget. It had gathered 1.3 million signatures by Monday morning, becoming the first petition on the National Assembly website to surpass 500,000. In France, petitions with over half a million signatures can prompt a parliamentary debate, but do not require a new vote. National Assembly chairwoman Yael Braun-Pivet and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are among those who have said they would back a debate. The draft law, proposed by conservative Laurent Duplomb, would reauthorise the use of neonicotinoid pesticide acetamiprid, one of a group that European food safety agency EFSA has assessed as representing a risk to bees. It also aims to simplify approvals for livestock breeding facilities, and to ease irrigation rules. The petition, however, calls it a "scientific, ethical, environmental, and health aberration". French farmers protested in Paris in May against amendments filed by opposition lawmakers to the bill, which it said would help them compete with EU peers. France is the EU's top sugar beet grower and home to major producers such as Tereos and Cristal Union. Growers argue that acetamiprid, allowed in other EU countries, is vital to fight yellows disease, which cut yields by 30% in 2020 and slashed sugar output. "We need to maintain our means of production, and I believe there's a lot of exaggeration in the comments being made," the head of France's largest farm union FNSEA Arnaud Rousseau told franceinfo radio. The government defended the bill, but acknowledged the outcry. "We must listen (to this petition)," government spokesperson Sophie Primas said. "Perhaps we haven't explained or reassured enough. The aim of this law is to put French farmers back on an equal footing with their European counterparts."
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
French petition against return of bee-killing pesticide passes 1mn
More than a million people Sunday had signed a petition urging the French government to ditch a law allowing the reintroduction of a banned pesticide experts say is deadly to bees. The so-called "Duplomb law" has stirred public anger for permitting a return of acetamiprid -- a chemical known to be toxic to pollinators such as bees and to ecosystems. It was adopted on July 8 but has not yet come into effect. A 23-year-old master's student launched the petition against the law on July 10, with support quickly snowballing with the backing of many including actors and several left-wing lawmakers. More than 500,000 people signed it in 24 hours from Saturday and Sunday alone. The law's proponents however argue farmers face too much regulation in France as is, and allowing them to use acetamiprid again would help reduce the constraints they face. National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet on Sunday ruled out abandoning the legislation, named after the conservative lawmaker who proposed it, as it would "save a certain number of our farmers". The petition's author, Eleonore Pattery, who describes herself as "a future environmental health professional", called the new law a "scientific, ethical, environmental and public health aberration". "It represents a frontal attack on public health, biodiversity, the coherence of climate policies, food security, and common sense," she said. - 'Bee killer' - Acetamiprid has been banned in France since 2018, but remains legal within the European Union. The insecticide is particularly sought after by beet and hazelnut growers, who say they have no alternative against pests and face unfair competition. On the other hand, beekeepers have branded the chemical "a bee killer". French scientists who have studied its disorientating effects on bees confirm it is toxic to them. Its effects on humans are also a source of concern but, in the absence of large-scale studies, its risks remain unclear. The petition calls for the "immediate repeal" of the law and a "citizen-led consultation involving health, agricultural, environmental and legal stakeholders". Launched on July 10, two days after the Senate adopted the text, it had already passed 500,000 signatures on Saturday. - Appeal to Macron - Petitions do not in themselves trigger a review or repeal of the legislation but unprecedented public support may prompt renewed parliamentary discussion on the matter. Under French rules, if a petition reaches 500,000 verified signatures, the National Assembly may choose to hold a public debate limited to the content of the petition itself. Speaker Braun-Pivet told the broadcaster franceinfo on Sunday she would be in favour of such a debate, but lawmakers "could not in any case go back on the law which has been voted through". President Emmanuel Macron does have the power to send the text back for deputies to re-examine it, and on Sunday Green party leader Marine Tondelier appealed to him to do just that in a video posted online. In late June, ahead of the law's passage, several thousand demonstrators -- including farmers, environmental organisations and scientists -- rallied across France calling for the bill to be withdrawn. are/jj/gv
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
French petition against return of bee-killing pesticide passes 1 million
More than a million people on Sunday had signed a petition urging the French government to ditch a law allowing the reintroduction of a banned pesticide experts say is deadly to bees. Advertisement The so-called Duplomb law has stirred public anger for permitting a return of a chemical known to be toxic to pollinators such as bees and to ecosystems. It was adopted on July 8 but has not yet come into effect. A 23-year-old master's student launched the petition against the law on July 10, with support quickly snowballing with the backing of many, including actors and several left-wing lawmakers. More than 500,000 people signed the petition in 24 hours from Saturday and Sunday alone. The law's proponents, however, argue farmers already face too much regulation in France and allowing them to use acetamiprid again would help reduce the constraints they face. National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet on Sunday ruled out abandoning the legislation, named after the conservative lawmaker who proposed it, as it would 'save a certain number of our farmers'. Advertisement The petition's author Eleonore Pattery, who describes herself as 'a future environmental health professional', called the new law a 'scientific, ethical, environmental and public health aberration'.
