The French parliament has approved a new law. This law allows farmers to use two pesticides again. These chemicals are acetamiprid and flupyradifurone. Before this, these pesticides were banned. Farmers want to use them to protect crops from insects called aphids. They will use these chemicals on sugar beet, apples, hazelnuts, and cherries. The French agency Anses can give special permission to use them in certain cases.
However, many people are worried. Beekeepers and scientists say these chemicals are dangerous for bees. Acetamiprid is a type of chemical that affects the brains of insects. It can damage a bee's memory. If a bee cannot remember how to find food or find its home, the whole colony might die. Also, a study in 2024 showed that flupyradifurone can kill some honeybees. This is a big problem for the environment.
The honey industry in France is already in trouble. Honey production in the country was halved between the mid-1990s and the mid-2010s. Beekeepers believe these new pesticides will make the problem worse. They say bees are important for the whole planet. If bees die, there will be fewer crops in the future.
There is a big fight between farmers and environmentalists. Farmers need to protect their food, but scientists want to protect nature. The government must now decide how to balance these two needs. The new rules will start soon, and many people will watch Anses very closely.