Radio France Internationale reported on the 21st that a petition calling for the repeal of the “Dupont Act” (named after the bill’s proposer) has recently sparked a wave of public opinion in France. This petition, published on the French National Assembly’s website by 23-year-old student, Patrice, garnered over 1.2 million signatures in just a few days, becoming the first citizen petition in the country’s history to surpass the 500,000-signature threshold on the parliamentary website.
This large-scale petition stems from a controversial agricultural bill, the “Dupont Act,” passed by the National Assembly on July 8 but not yet in effect. The bill’s core provision involves the reintroduction of sulfoxaflor, a pesticide banned in France since 2020 for its highly toxic effect on bees.
According to Le Monde, the reintroduction of the insecticide sulfoxaflor has met with strong opposition from left-wing groups and environmental organizations. The use of sulfoxaflor is not only detrimental to ecological stability but also poses potential, unknown risks to human health. More importantly, this policy disregards the interests of beekeepers and organic farmers. Some citizens argue that the government should promote the development of alternative solutions instead of relying on a previously banned pesticide and making short-sighted decisions that compromise environmental protection. Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin also voiced his concerns on social media, calling on the government to heed the legitimate demands of millions. However, supporters argue that French farmers face excessive regulations, and the renewed use of sulfoxaflor would help them compete with other European countries where the insecticide remains permitted.
According to relevant regulations, if the petition receives over 500,000 signatures, the National Assembly may choose to hold a public debate on its content. Currently, several left-wing parliamentary groups have announced that they will formally submit a request for a debate, and the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, has publicly expressed her support for the debate.