法国议会周二投票通过一项法案，以214票对111票支持重新授权使用乙基咪唑啉和氟虫腈两种杀虫剂[1]。该法案允许法国食品与环保安全署在特殊情况下批准使用这两种杀虫剂，用于防控危害甜菜、苹果、榛子和樱桃的蚜虫传播疾病[1]。虽然这些杀虫剂在欧盟被允许，但在法国此前已被禁用[1]。
养蜂人和环保人士对此决定提出强烈抗议。法国养蜂协会主席克莱蒙特表示："这些杀虫剂被重新授权，令人无法理解。我们与它们对抗了30年。这是可耻、非理性和不负责任的。"[1] 蜂农德劳内指出，自20世纪90年代引入新烟碱类后，他的蜂蜜产量"从每箱80公斤降至5公斤"，蜂群"崩溃"了[1]。法国蜂蜜产量在新烟碱类引入的1990年代中期至2010年代中期间减半[1]。2024年一项研究表明氟虫腈可能对某些蜜蜂致命[1]。
这一立法决定导致环境部长巴尔巴特周三提交辞呈，称其为"一个过分的环境挫折"[1]，不过随后被总统马克龙劝阻撤回辞呈[1]。养蜂联盟、环保组织和左翼议员表示将向宪法委员会上诉该法律[1]。
France's parliament voted on Tuesday to reauthorize the use of two previously banned insecticides, imidacloprid and fipronil, with the Senate approving the legislation by a vote of 214 to 111.[1] The decision allows France's food and environmental safety agency to authorize these pesticides under special circumstances to combat aphid-borne diseases affecting sugar beets, apples, hazelnuts, and cherries.[1]
While these pesticides remain permitted within the European Union, they had been prohibited in France.[1] Beekeepers and environmental advocates have vehemently opposed the move, citing scientific evidence that the chemicals are toxic to honeybees and have caused colony collapses and dramatic declines in honey production.[1] Beekeeping association president Clement stated: "These insecticides being reauthorized is incomprehensible. We have fought against them for 30 years. This is scandalous, irrational and irresponsible."[1] One beekeeper, Delaunoy, reported that honey yields from his hives dropped from 80 kilograms per hive to just 5 kilograms following the introduction of neonicotinoids in the mid-1990s, with his colonies subsequently collapsing.[1] A 2024 study indicated that fipronil may be lethal to certain honeybee species.[1] France's overall honey production halved between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s as these insecticides proliferated.[1]
The legislation prompted Environment Minister Barbaret to submit her resignation on Wednesday, characterizing the law as "an excessive environmental setback."[1] However, President Macron persuaded her to withdraw her resignation.[1] Beekeeping unions, environmental organizations, and left-wing legislators have announced plans to appeal the law to the Constitutional Council.[1]