Part of controversial French agricultural law scrapped, it is unconstitutional

The French Constitutional Council ruled on Thursday that part of the so-called Duplomb law is unconstitutional, according to French media. The section in question would have reauthorized the use of a pesticide that is likely carcinogenic. "The wise," as the council members are known, argue that if the use of acetamiprid, among other substances, were reauthorized, "the right to live in a healthy environment" would not be guaranteed.

The law was previously fully adopted by both houses of the French Parliament, but it led to widespread criticism in France. A petition submitted to the National Assembly received over 2.1 million signatures—more than ever before for such a petition. The League Against Cancer, the Order of Physicians, and environmental organizations, among others, also spoke out against the law, citing concerns about its impact on the environment and public health.

If the Duplomb law had been reinstated in its entirety, the pesticide acetamiprid would have been legal again in some cases. This is a substance that falls under the neonicotinoid group. The use of most neonicotinoids has been banned in France since 2018 because they are very harmful to bees and other pollinating insects.

Opponents of the Duplomb law not only feared damage to biodiversity and the environment, but also pointed to studies showing that acetamiprid could potentially penetrate the uterus and thus affect the development of the nervous systems of unborn children. In general, exposure to pesticides can lead to an increased risk of various types of cancer and diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's—farmers themselves are particularly affected. Some opponents expressed concern that if acetamiprid were to be allowed, other toxic substances could potentially be legalized in the future.

Supporters of the law argue that it is unfair that French farmers are not allowed to use the poison because it would lead to unfair competition: its use is permitted in other EU countries until 2033. However, there are also concerns at the European level: last year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) spoke of "huge uncertainties" regarding the substance's impact on unborn child development and called for more research to "gain a more robust understanding of the hazards and risks."

Several other measures in the Duplomb Act are still subject to criticism. These measures, for example, make it easier for farmers to build mega-farms for intensive livestock farming and to construct so-called mega-basins : enormous reservoirs for storing rainwater, surface runoff, and in some cases, groundwater. Environmentalists oppose these measures because they would deprive nature and the environment of increasingly scarce water.

Correction (August 7, 2025, at 9:04 PM): An earlier version of this article stated that the law was completely scrapped. This is incorrect and has been corrected above.