To health and the environment, under the Egalim Law. Article L.253-8 IV of the Rural and Maritime Fisheries Code explicitly bans "the production, storage, and circulation of phytopharmaceutical products containing active substances not approved for reasons related to the protection of human or animal health or the environment in line with Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 of 21 October 2009."

However, the interministerial circular of July 23, 2019—intended to clarify the law’s application—significantly limits its scope. This document states that the ban "applies only to phytopharmaceutical products containing in their formulation active substances not approved at the European level," and not to the substances themselves.

This circular contradicts the intent of the law, which was to strengthen public health and environmental protections, thereby rendering it ineffective. For this reason, CCFD-Terre Solidaire and the Veblen Institute have brought a case to the Conseil d’État.

Massive Exports of Substances, Primarily to Low- and Middle-Income Countries

• 7,300 tons of banned pesticides were exported from France in 2023, with 4,500 tons (over 60%) exported as pure substances.
• These exports included 23 banned substances/pesticides.
• 3,000 tons of picoxystrobin were exported by Corteva—enough to treat an area the size of France!
• More than 80% of the total volume of banned pesticides exported in 2023 went to low- or middle-income countries, with Brazil receiving nearly 3,000 tons in 2023, where their use poses exceptionally high risk levels.

See our press kit for more details.