Scientific and political discord centers around the chemical compound Acetamiprid
The reintroduction of the insecticide acetamiprid in France, authorized by the so-called Duplomb law adopted on July 8, 2025, has stirred up a storm of controversy. The move, which bypassed proper parliamentary debate and caused significant public outcry and expert opposition, is highly controversial and disputed by many experts and citizens.
Acetamiprid, a powerful insecticide used in fields and orchards to rid crops of pests, has been banned in France since 2018 due to its known harm to ecosystems, particularly honeybee populations. Despite this, it remains authorized at the European Union level until 2033.
The reintroduction law, however, has faced fierce criticism for ignoring broader environmental and public health risks. More than 2 million people signed a student-initiated petition opposing the law, a massive public resistance that arguably marks the largest citizen signature campaign in French history.
Leading French health experts, including the president of the French Pediatric Society and senior scientific council presidents, issued an open letter urging the Constitutional Council not to validate the law, citing dangers to public health and ecological damage, especially to bees.
The government justified the move under agricultural pressures, especially from beet and hazelnut growers who claim no alternatives against pests. However, this rationale faces fierce criticism for ignoring broader environmental and public health risks.
The reintroduction of acetamiprid is subject to certain conditions, but critics argue that these conditions do not adequately address the risks associated with the insecticide. The move is still under legal and political review as of early August 2025.
Ecologist Members of the European Parliament have criticized France’s unilateral decision as a regression that could undermine broader EU pesticide regulations and environmental protections.
In conclusion, the reintroduction of acetamiprid in France does not rest on a broad scientific consensus or expert endorsement but rather on political and agricultural pressures. It is opposed by significant public and scientific communities due to documented risks to bees, ecosystems, and potentially human health. The move is still under legal and political review as of early August 2025.
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Science is at the heart of the debate surrounding the reintroduction of acetamiprid in France, with concerns raised about its impact on medical-conditions such as potential harm to human health and ecological damage, particularly to bees. The move is opposed by a significant public and scientific community, as highlighted by numerous petitions and open letters from leading experts. Despite this, the reintroduction remains under legal and political review, with calls from ecological Members of the European Parliament for a broader approach to pesticide regulations and environmental protections in health-and-wellness and environmental-science.
