Duplomb Law: Farmers, environmentalists and scientists demonstrated against a “dangerous and retrograde” text

" Duplomb Law , Poison Law." Thousands of opponents of this proposed agricultural law gathered across France this weekend to demand the cancellation of this text, which is to be examined by the joint committee on Monday.

This commission, which will bring together 14 senators and deputies, will be responsible for finding a compromise text, after a tactical rejection of the text aimed at circumventing a wall of amendments from environmentalists and rebels.

"This is an anti-democratic coup to pass this law, which is a radical regression" for both the environment and public health, as well as a "denial of the scientific facts on the dangers of pesticides," declared the Scientists in Rebellion committee, present on Sunday on the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris.

According to the Nourrir collective, which brings together dozens of environmental protection NGOs (Greenpeace, WWF, Générations Futures, etc.), which initiated the call for the weekend's mobilization, including the Confédération paysanne, the CGT and Cancer Colère, around a thousand people gathered in Paris and several hundred others were also present in 50 towns, including Creil (Oise), Cherbourg (Manche) and Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) and Coulommiers (Seine-et-Marne).

The bill by LR Senator Laurent Duplomb is presented as intended to "remove constraints" on farmers. It notably provides for the reintroduction of the pesticide acetamiprid (a neonicotinoid that is highly toxic, particularly to pollinators and natural environments), as well as measures facilitating water storage and the expansion of intensive livestock farms, as well as a redefinition of the work of ANSES.

"No, farmers are not behind this law, which in no way addresses the difficulties facing the agricultural world" and "goes against the general interest," chanted Stéphane Galais, spokesperson for the Confédération paysanne and a cattle breeder in Brittany, from the Parisian podium, amid banners reading "Duplomb law, poison law."

"The Duplomb law is dangerous and retrograde," Xavier Fromont, spokesperson for the union for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, also insisted on Sunday during a gathering of 600 people dressed in yellow and black in Puy-en-Velay, Senator Duplomb's stronghold.

The day before in Pau, the hometown of Prime Minister François Bayrou , around a hundred people had chanted "our health will not be sold off," while holding a large black tarpaulin. "It's an irresponsible and culpable law," Allain Bougrain-Dubourg , president of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) in Paris, said on Sunday.

"Ladies and gentlemen of parliament, pull yourselves together. Your responsibility is to protect the French population, not the interests of a few," added the representative of France Nature Environnement (FNE), calling for "the outright rejection of the bill." The NGOs have already declared themselves ready to "take legal action" if this law is enacted.

A "Night Standing Against Agribusiness" protest was held on Sunday in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, starting at 7 p.m., in the presence of Green and Insoumis elected officials and leaders of collectives.