French 础蝉蝉别尘产濒茅别 delays pesticide ban by three years
The French 础蝉蝉别尘产濒茅别 has voted to push back its planned ban on the production of certain pesticides by three years to 2025, the same week as hundreds of thousands marched against climate change.
The 础蝉蝉别尘产濒茅别 Nationale had previously voted to stop the production in France of certain pesticides that are banned by the European Union, by 2022. Now, this until at least 2025.
The ban was set to apply to the production, stocking, and sale of certain banned phytopharmaceutical products, and which contain any substances that are prohibited by the EU under its agriculture and food laws.
After debating the issue this week, the chamber voted the delay by 27 votes to three, with seven abstentions.
Pushing the date by three years would make it more likely that companies would change their practices, rather than simply moving their production elsewhere, supporters said.
MP Roland Lescure, who supported the move, : 鈥淚f we get rid of production from one day to the next, the danger is that it will simply move down the road a few hundred kilometres, and the overall impact to the environment will be nothing.鈥�
This new change, the government said, would 鈥済ive a clear deadline to manufacturers鈥� and make sure there was no 鈥渂rutal cut-off point鈥�.
The law will therefore come into force in 2025, and will also allow companies to obtain exemptions if they sign an agreement with the government within six months, to help fund research into pesticide alternatives.
But critics of the change said the delay would have a negative impact.
MP Barbara Pompili, former secretary of State for biodiversity, who abstained from the vote, said: 鈥淲e cannot undo what we have done鈥�, and blamed 鈥渆motional blackmail鈥� by 鈥渃ynical companies鈥�.
MP Eric Alauzet said the vote represented the 鈥渃lash between environmental questions, and economic questions.鈥�
The vote comes in the same week as hundreds of thousands of people joined a peaceful march against climate change across France this weekend.
More than 45,000 people , alongside 350,000 in total nationwide.
The 鈥�Marche du Si猫cle (the march of the century鈥�) came one day after thousands of students and young people worldwide missed classes to take to the streets in the latest 鈥淔ridays for Future鈥� action, inspired by the Youth for Climate global group and the example of Swedish teenager and climate change activist, Greta Thunberg.
In the wake of the 础蝉蝉别尘产濒茅别 vote, a statement from environmental campaign group La Fondation Nicolas Hulot said: 鈥淲hile citizens march, the pesticide lobby moves forward, and the government retreats.鈥�
