French exemptions for banned pesticides set record

In 2025, the French Ministry of Agriculture granted over 130 exemptions allowing the use of pesticides banned in France, a figure that set a European record. This number is expected to rise further in 2026, making France the EU country granting the most exemptions for non-approved pesticides.

Exemptions focus on insecticides in agriculture

Most of the exemptions involve insecticides used in conventional agriculture, especially for fruit growing, such as apples, pears, and cherries. These products were previously removed from the market due to health risks, but are now being used again under special permits.

Some banned pesticides are reauthorized despite risks

Several pesticides that have been banned or restricted due to health and environmental concerns are being reauthorized through exemptions. For instance, Avadex Factor, a herbicide previously rejected for its risk of groundwater contamination, is allowed until January 2027 for winter barley. Similarly, Movento, an insecticide banned in the EU in 2024, is still authorized in France for certain crops.

Organic products also face scrutiny

A smaller number of exemptions involve products used in organic farming, such as Curatio, a fungicide based on sulfur and calcium. Despite being permitted in organic farming, it has been refused authorization in the past due to risks to soil organisms.

Exemptions have increased over time

The number of exemptions has grown significantly, from around 70 per year at the end of the 2010s to more than 100 annually. The Ministry of Agriculture cites factors like the variety of crops and complex weather patterns as reasons for this increase, but environmental groups argue it shows the ban on certain pesticides is not effective.

Proposed changes could extend exemptions

Under the "Omnibus X" legislative package on pesticides, some European parliamentarians propose allowing exemptions to be renewed yearly for up to five years. This potential change has raised concerns among environmental organizations, who believe it could weaken existing pesticide regulations.