French environment minister announces resignation over approved pesticide bill

France's environment minister, Monique Barbut, said on Wednesday she would submit her resignation to the president after lawmakers approved a bill allowing the reintroduction of pesticides that harm bees. In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Barbut said the government prevented any debate on removing the measure, contrary to commitments made to her. She described the reversal as 'one environmental setback too many'.

Barbut previously headed WWF France and served as executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). She stated, 'Politics is not my world, and if this is what politics is about, it definitely never will be.'

On Tuesday, parliament approved an agriculture bill reintroducing two pesticides—acetamiprid and flupyradifurone—which critics say harm bees. The legislation authorizes France's health and safety agency, Anses, to conditionally approve their use. Proponents argue that French sugar beet, apple, and hazelnut farmers need these insecticides, banned in France since 2018 and 2019 respectively, to compete with European counterparts. Opponents contend they are dangerous to bees and human health.

Barbut noted that in 2016, France chose to ban acetamiprid based on scientific evidence and the precautionary principle. Ten years later, scientific studies continue to raise doubts about its effects on health and the environment. The vote followed last year's decision by the Constitutional Council, France's highest court, to strike down a similar provision in another bill, citing risks to human health after over two million people signed a petition against it.