FRANCE: Public consultation on a draft Decree on neonicotinoids

Published by Karine Mavet at 23 February 2017

A draft Decree is on public consultation from 14/02 to 15/03/2017. A list of 7 Neonicotinoid active substances that will be banned from 1st September 2018 is given: Acetamiprid, Clothianidin, Dinotefuran*, Imidacloprid, Nitenpyram*, Thiacloprid and Thiamethoxam.

Neonicotinoids ban was set by the law for biodiversity regrowth. Exemptions may be granted until 1 July 2020 by joint Order of the Ministers in charge of Agriculture, Environment and Health. The Order will be based on an assessment covering the impacts on the environment, in particular on pollinators, on public health and on agriculture. The assessment will be made public.

As announced during the presentation of Anses work programme for 2017, the evaluation by Anses of the benefits and risks linked to the uses of authorised plant protection products containing neonicotinoids compared to the uses of available substitution products and alternative strategies has already started. A total of more than 3500 uses will be assessed. First results will be available in 2017.