French Parliament Approves Agricultural Reform Bill Ahead of Farm Show
Paris, France – The French Parliament has given its final approval to a comprehensive agricultural reform bill, paving the way for its implementation before the start of the annual Paris International Agricultural Show.
Compromise Legislation
The bill, the result of a compromise between deputies and senators, was adopted by the National Assembly on Wednesday, February 19, by a wide margin of 369 votes to 160. It received support from the presidential majority, the right-wing, the National Rally-Union of Rights for the Republic alliance, and independent members of the Liberties, Independents, Overseas, and Territories group (LIOT).
The left-wing opposition strongly opposed the bill, denouncing it as a setback for the environment.
Focus on Farmer Support and Environmental Concerns
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard hailed the legislation as "much-anticipated" and "a strong response to the demands of our farmers."
The eclectic bill combines measures to assist in the transfer of farms through a single window with the simplification of hedge regulations. However, it is the provision to remove barriers to the farming profession that has sparked a divide with the left and environmentalists. They fear it will lead to a decline in environmental standards.
Critics also denounced the bill’s adoption of provisions imposed by the Senate, which they argued had weakened the text. André Chassaigne, president of the Democratic and Republican Left group in the National Assembly, accused the Senate of imposing "a blanket ban" on environmental protections.
Compromise and Differing Views
In contrast, Pascal Lecamp, the National Assembly’s rapporteur for the bill, defended the compromise, citing the reintroduced objective of dedicating 21% of agricultural land to organic farming by 2030. He called it an "insufficient" text but "necessary to help our sectors recover."
Hélène Laporte, a National Rally MP from Lot-et-Garonne, described the bill as "marked by the heavy hand" of the Senate but necessary to support the agricultural industry.
Controversial Environmental Provisions
One controversial article revises the scale of penalties for environmental offenses. It would decriminalize such violations when they are not committed "intentionally," instead imposing an administrative fine of up to €450 or a training course.
Aurélie Trouvé, president of the Economic Affairs Committee in the National Assembly, criticized the provision as "a law that cuts environmental protections gained through hard work" with a "chainsaw."
Minister Genevard countered that the text did not grant farmers "a free pass to destroy species."
Other Contentious Issues
Other provisions in the bill that have drawn criticism include a measure urging the government to "refrain from banning the use of plant protection products authorized by the European Union" and a presumption of urgency in legal disputes over the construction of water reservoirs for irrigation.
Dominique Potier, a Socialist MP from Meurthe-et-Moselle, dismissed the bill as failing to address "the climate crisis or the demographic cliff."
Despite the controversy, the bill’s passage represents a significant step towards modernizing French agriculture and addressing the challenges facing the sector. Its implementation will be closely watched by farmers, environmentalists, and policymakers alike.
