France's agricultural emergency law adopted, faces constitutional challenge

Paris, July 21, 2026 — After a turbulent legislative process that exposed deep political divisions over environmental and health protection, the agricultural emergency bill was definitively adopted by the National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday, July 21.

The text, which originally contained around twenty articles in the government's initial version, now includes more than fifty. Substantial additions have been made, notably paving the way for exemptions to the ban on two pesticides from the neonicotinoid family. These substances are currently prohibited in France due to their harmful effects on ecosystems and associated health risks.

Key Points of Contention

• The most controversial measure, added during the Senate's review and retained in the joint committee's final text, concerns four agricultural sectors.
• In response to criticism of a "strong-arm tactic," the Ministry of Agriculture argues that the provision "puts science back at the center of the debate" by tasking the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) with examining exemption requests.
• Environmental protection associations have denounced this as a "fallacious argument."

Reactions and Concerns

Générations Futures, an environmental advocacy group, stated: "In two months, ANSES will not have time to do serious work on the subject, certainly nothing that even remotely resembles a rigorous scientific evaluation respecting the strict regulatory framework to which the agency remains subject."

When contacted, ANSES confirmed that it has not yet examined "all the provisions [of the text] concerning it."

Read also: Does the vote on the agricultural emergency bill weaken Sébastien Lecornu's government? Ask your questions to our journalists (Read later)

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