Overview
- Wednesday night deputies from La France Insoumise, Rassemblement National and Les Écologistes rewrote an article in the agricultural emergency bill to bar the introduction, importation and sale of food, feed and horticultural products produced with pesticides or veterinary drugs banned in France.
- The amendment, filed by LFI deputy Aurélie Trouvé, replaces a narrower commission text that would have let the agriculture minister block imports with residues of substances banned at EU level.
- The government and several deputies warned the text conflicts with EU single‑market law and Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said it would not survive judicial review.
- Legal specialists said EU rules allow targeted national import restrictions only when scientific evidence shows a serious health or environmental risk and when the European Commission approves a derogation, meaning a blanket or systematic ban would be legally vulnerable.
- Debates will continue through a solemn Assembly vote on June 2 before transmission to the Senate and any adoption would likely trigger Commission scrutiny and possible legal challenges, while critics say the measure could sharply reduce available rice, tea, coffee, fruits, nuts and other common imports.