France prepares nationwide protests against EU pesticide deregulation plan
Around fifty French cities will host noisy rallies on October 10-11 to oppose the EU’s omnibus X pesticide bill.
Following a large protest near a Syngenta plant in Normandy, activists are gearing up for a second wave of actions across France on October 10 and 11. Roughly fifty towns, including major urban centres like Paris, Lyon and Marseille, will see noisy gatherings featuring pots, pans and chants against the EU’s omnibus X legislative text. The campaign is coordinated by a broad alliance of around one hundred organisations, from farmer groups such as Condération paysanne to environmental NGOs like Greenpeace and France Nature Environnement, as well as health charities Médecins du monde and Action contre la faim.
The omnibus X bill, presented by the European Commission, seeks to modernise food safety and agricultural competitiveness by dramatically easing pesticide approval rules, permitting indefinite renewals except for chemicals classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxins. Demonstrators will rally under the banner “Pesticides à vie ? Non Merci!” to demand stricter controls.
Why it matters
The protests highlight public resistance to weakening EU pesticide rules, a key issue for health and environmental safety.
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