Over 1 million citizens asked the French government to stop the “Loi Duplomb”. This is a law that would reintroduce neonicotinoid pesticides, such as acetamiprid. This neurotoxic substance should be banned everywhere in Europe. Neonicotinoids are a major threat to the environment and to human health.
The petition actively supported by our member, Générations Futures passed the milestone of 1 million signatures on the National Assembly platform. A historic event in France. This wave of signatures shows the massive rejection of this law, which threatens health, biodiversity and the sustainable future of agriculture.
Générations Futures is asking to make it an even stronger statement by reaching the 1.5 million signatures. They write that it is important to show that civil society is united against this scientific, ethical and environmental aberration.
Loi Duplomb
A law that will supposedly make farmers live easier but will only benefit the the very large farms [1] by mainly:
- Derogating certain banned pesticides
- Encourage megabasins
- Facilitating industrial farming
Acetamiprid
Acetamiprid [2] is a neonicotinoid insecticide used to kill insects. Neonicotinoids work by targeting the insects' nervous system, causing paralysis and death. They are one of the main causes of mass bee deaths worldwide, endangering our food security, agricultural economy and the environment.
Scientific evidence shows that neonicotinoids like acetamiprid can favour breast cancer, due to its endocrine disruption property, and may lead to infertility. [3] They can also affect our brain. It has been shown to concentrate at high levels in mice fetuses' brains upon mother exposure. [4] And it could have a nicotine-like effect on children’s brains, which is particularly worrying. The exposure to nicotine of the unborn is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome, low-birth-weight, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, as well as numerous behavioral and physiological deficits. [5]
An appeal to Emmanuel Macron
In order to amplify the importance of the topic, Générations Futures asked President Macron not to promulgate the Duplomb law. He has the power to do so. They ask him to listen to the citizens, scientists, doctors, beekeepers, farmers and associations who are warning of the dangers of this law.
The future of agriculture
This historic mobilisation is a unique opportunity to open a great debate on the future of our agriculture and food. Products such as acetamiprid should be banned in the entire European Union. Sustainable agriculture needs to be built with respect for the environment and public health, and against the vested interests of agribusiness lobbies.
Read more:
- Pétition historique : 1 million de signatures contre la loi Duplomb ! Cap sur 1,5 million ! - Générations Futures
- Do you want to suppor this petition? Sign HERE!
- Save our brain | PAN Europe
- Acetamiprid | PAN Europe
- PAN Europe and Générations Futures ask the European Commission to ban neurotoxic acetamiprid at once
Notes:
[1] Loi Duplomb : adoption d’un texte funeste pour l’environnement
[2] Acetamiprid: the brain-toxic neonicotinoid we must urgently leave behind | PAN Europe
[3] Neonicotinoid insecticides promote breast cancer progression via G protein-coupled estrogen receptor: In vivo, in vitro and in silico studies - Science Direct, December 2022
[4] Scientific Opinion on the developmental neurotoxicity potential of acetamiprid and imidacloprid, EFSA Journal, 17 December 2023
[5] Nicotine-Like Effects of the Neonicotinoid Insecticides Acetamiprid and Imidacloprid on Cerebellar Neurons from Neonatal Rats, Kimura-Kuroda et al. 2012
