The government has threatened financial sanctions for insufficient protection of local residents

Two months: this is the last deadline given by the Council of State on Thursday, December 22, 2022, to the Government to change the rules applicable to farmers on the spread of pesticides suspected to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. Otherwise, the executive will be fined 500 euros for each day of delay. a decision has been made ” the seriousness of the consequences of partial non-compliance in terms of public health and the resulting special urgency »Determines Superior Jurisdiction.

required by collective The State Council, with the participation of representatives of municipalities, associations and organic farmers, has already asked the government to amend its charter on July 26, 2021 within six months. Goals? Increase the non-reduced safety distance when treating aerial parts of plants fixed at a distance of 5 meters from residences, protect people working nearby and inform local residents before using these products.

Method in each case

” ANSES recommends a minimum distance of 10 meters between houses and spreading areas », especially the State Council emphasized. Applicable recommendation ” Any product classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic, regardless of whether the effect is proven, suspected or only suspected ». Several associations that were not satisfied with the government asked the High Jurisdiction to react again on February 3 and 9.

In December 2021, the Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Health and Environment called on the National Agency for Health, Food, Environment and Occupational Safety (ANSES) to speed up the processing of requests to change the terms of use of about 300 of them. plant protection products. In October last year, 85 of them were operated by determining the distance of use by product and use. For others, a distance of 10 meters was to be applied “by default”.

Doubtful decree

In draft order The Ministry of Agriculture, put out for consultation from November 28 to December 18, 2022, proposes the implementation of this safety margin of 10 meters ” unless the marketing authorization (AMM) includes a safety distance » and when “ As of October 1, 2022, no application received by ANSES for renewal of employment conditions has been recorded. ».

Will the State Council be satisfied with this? Unions, for their part, are unconvinced, and are critical of product evaluation methods under MAs, such as the development of departmental commitment charters on local pesticide use. ” We expect the government to really reopen this file to take the necessary measures as a matter of urgency and before the outbreak starts again in the spring. », Future Generations insists. For hazardous products (CMR1), a non-compressible distance of 20 meters is specified.

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Note Future Generations, France Nature Environment, Doctors Alert on Pesticides (AMLP), Brittany waters and rivers, Vigilance OGM 16, collective of mayors against pesticides and support for victims of pesticides in the West and North, UFC – What to choose, Union Syndicale Solidaires.

Article published on December 26, 2022