NGOs back call for EU-wide non-agricultural pesticide ban

On 31 May, Senator Joël Labbé hosted a press conference in Paris marking the unanimous adoption by the French Senate of a resolution to ban non-agricultural pesticides across Europe.

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and Générations Futures warmly welcomed the resolution and call on the Parliaments of other EU Member States to adopt similar resolutions.

The resolution demands that the European Union examine the extent to which European legislation could prohibit, firstly, the use pesticides by public bodies, and secondly, the sale of pesticides to private individuals. In France, pesticides have been banned in all green public spaces since January 2017 with the exception of railways, airports and roadways. The same law, called the “Labbé Law”, will prohibit the use of pesticides in private gardens and selling of pesticides to non-professional users as of January 2019.

Francois Veillerette, President of Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and Director of Générations Futures, commented, “Although this resolution is not a direct legislation, it clearly shows the intention of the French Senate to move further towards a pesticide free Europe. We enthusiastically welcome this initiative and call on the Parliaments of other EU Member States to adopt similar resolutions.”

While the European Commission and some Member States are dragging their feet in ensuring serious implementation of the EU laws on pesticides, a growing number of countries and regions across Europe are taking action. France, Netherlands and Belgium are all in the process of making towns pesticide free, while some towns have gone further and are now aiming to go pesticide-free not only in public areas but also in private areas.