France’s temporary pesticide waivers have more than doubled since 2018

In France, farmers can use some banned pesticides under temporary waivers granted by the state.

Apple grower Françoise Roch says she needs several of these products to protect her crop from aphids.

When farmers fear serious damage from pests or disease, they can ask the agriculture ministry for permission to use a product for up to 120 days across France.

The number of waivers has more than doubled since 2018, and France granted 138 pesticide waivers last year, more than any other European country listed.

One product allowed this year, the herbicide Avadex Factor, was withdrawn from the market in 2023 after France’s food and environmental safety agency identified risks to groundwater and human health.

An environmental group says some waivers are repeated every year, while the ministry says it reviews each request, including repeat applications.

The debate is whether temporary exceptions have become routine as concerns grow about French agriculture’s continued reliance on pesticides.