After long months of expectation, the Constitutional Council returned its verdict Thursday, August 7 on the Duplumb law. Result? If some of the constraints in the exercise of the farmer’s profession were lifted, others were censored, in the image “reintroduction of acetamipride“, A controversial pesticide from the family of neonicotinoids. What do our experts think of this decision? What threats makes this molecule weigh on human health? Dr. Pierre Souvet, cardiologist and president of the Association Santé Environnement France (ASEF), and Emmanuel Ricard, public health doctor and director of the prevention of the league against cancer, enlighten us.
The censorship of the Duplo law prevents the reintroduction of “neonicotinoids”
It is a matter that crystallizes the whole country. More than two million people have signed the petition demanding the repeal of the Duplomb (the second most signed in French history). On the other hand, the government has voted this text to calm the anger of the farmers. But Thursday, the Constitutional Council decided and censored the reintroduction of acetamipride, an insecticide which disrupts the work of bees and overnight to the health of the populations.
“Controlling its provisions with regard to the requirements of the Environment Charter, the Constitutional Council censures the provisions authorizing to derogate from the ban on using plant protection products containing neonicotinoids”is it written in the council press release. “It follows in particular from this charter that the legislator must (…) ensure that the choices intended to meet the needs of the present do not compromise the capacity of future generations and other peoples to meet their own needs”.
A text that was welcomed with a great relief by leftist parliamentarians. Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the Socialist Party, welcomed this decision which marks “A victory for ecology, health and democracy “. The Cancer League also welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Council.
“”This decision raises the issues beyond the only acetamipride which today crystallizes debates (because studies demonstrate that it is associated with mechanisms linked to the development of cancers, For example by damaging DNA), since this text also and above all gave and above all a blank check to future derogations for other neonicotinoids“, reveals the association in a press release.
But vigilance remains. If the Council recognizes the risks on human health, the precautionary principle remains confined to environmental issues … without being extended to public health issues.
“”If the decision of the Constitutional Council is good on the constitutional level, it is above all the precautionary principle in matters of environmental“Confirms Emmanuel Ricard, director of the league prevention service against cancer. “Now, from the moment when acetamipride has an effect on insects, it will also have it on humans – it is a simple question of dose. Maintaining the restriction is therefore absolutely essential”, hammers the doctor.
Another major problem posed by article 1 of the Dumont law, “It is because it opens the way to a massive overconsumption of pesticides, without consideration for the effects on health. Basically, this text serves as a pretext to reintroduce other measures and strengthen the place of the phytosanitary industry “, warns the expert, who would like to emphasize that an overconsumption of pesticides would also affect the right remuneration of peasants. “”This would especially benefit the biggest players, not to small operators “, he said.
Acetamipride: In terms of health, what should be dreaded? What effects have been demonstrated?
Faced with this question as sensitive as it is actual, Dr. Pierre Souvet and Dr. Emmanuel Ricard are blocking. Despite objections, science has indeed highlighted the reprotoxic, neurodevelopmental and hormonal effects of neonicotinoids on human health, including acetamipride.
“EFSA has been worried about possible neurological effects in mammals. Japanese studies conducted on rodents have highlighted the appearance of breast tumors, while other in vitro research has shown effects on the liver. Analyzes carried out from autopsies have also revealed real genes. selection “, Note Dr. Emmanuel Ricard.
Moreover, although various tests carried out (on animals, or those known as “impregnation”, relating to people exposed to this compound) already constitute a “first proof“, the carcinogenic effects of acetamipride cannot be visible in the long term.
“”Even if the French are already exposed to this pesticide, a cancer takes decades to develop “, Specifies the spokesperson for the league against cancer. “”It has also been found that this pesticide interacted with certain antifungals (used against fungi) which potentiated its activity … But no study was carried out in this sense. “
The impact of acetamipride on human health therefore remains too often swept away, even minimized.
“”And yet: acetamipride was still found in the cerebrospinal fluid of certain children!“, Alerts Dr. Pierre Souvet.
“”This pesticide moves as a bonus in the air and in the water, which makes its geographic limitation impossible (an argument nevertheless highlighted in the Duplumb law). There is therefore no guarantee as to the limitation of its use, and no clear criterion defines its maximum duration of exposure. France had also tried to ban it at European level, without success. But it is not because other countries take a bad way that we must follow them … “, concludes the president of the Health Environment France association (ASEF).