Acetamiprid: The Insecticide at the Center of a Fierce Debate Between Farmers, Environmentalists, and Scientists

As the so-called Duplomb agricultural bill reaches the French National Assembly this Monday, May 26, one provision is sparking intense controversy: the possible reintroduction of acetamiprid, an insecticide from the neonicotinoid family. Banned in France since 2018, it remains authorized at the European level.

A Controversial Return in the Name of Agricultural Competitiveness

Introduced by Senator Laurent Duplomb, the bill aims to “lift the constraints” weighing on French farmers. The FNSEA, France’s largest farming union, sees it as a vital tool to protect national production. At the heart of the debate is the proposal to temporarily reauthorize acetamiprid for three years, under certain conditions.

Farmers—especially producers of sugar beets and hazelnuts—argue that this is their only effective defense against destructive pests. They decry what they call unfair competition: acetamiprid remains legal in the EU until 2033, allowing Italian and Turkish producers to use it while exporting their crops to France. “Our neighbors have a weapon we’re denied,” says the FNSEA, supported by the Coordination Rurale.

A “Bee Killer” with a Troubling Environmental Record

Environmental groups, beekeepers, and the Confédération Paysanne (France’s third-largest farmers’ union) fiercely oppose the move. For them, this is nothing short of reopening the door to “bee killers.” The French National Union of Beekeeping (Unaf) warns that neonicotinoids have caused massive die-offs in bee colonies since their introduction in the 1990s.

Christian Pons, Unaf president, notes that hives often collapse during flowering season, with bees dying or disappearing en masse. CNRS researcher Philippe Grandcolas adds that acetamiprid alone has “acute toxicity” and becomes exponentially more harmful—up to 100 times—when mixed with other agricultural chemicals like fungicides. The compound can also persist in soil for decades, posing long-term risks to biodiversity.

Human Health Risks Still Unclear

Beyond ecological concerns, acetamiprid may also pose risks to human health. Like all neonicotinoids, it targets the nervous system, raising questions about potential neurological effects in humans—especially children.

In 2024, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warned of “major uncertainties” regarding its impact on brain development. Laboratory studies have shown damage to neurons, and animal research has suggested links to neurological disorders and even breast cancer in mice. However, these findings don’t yet confirm real-world health risks at the exposure levels found in everyday use.

Health authorities stress the urgent need for large-scale epidemiological studies to better understand how neonicotinoids affect human populations, urging caution in the meantime.

A Political and Societal Divide

Even within the French government, acetamiprid’s comeback is causing divisions. While some centrist lawmakers back the measure as pragmatic, Ecological Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher strongly opposes it. “In a country that banned neonicotinoids, reopening this door undermines years of investment in alternatives,” she said, warning that a new EU-wide ban is likely inevitable.

The acetamiprid debate highlights a broader conflict over the future of agriculture in France. It pits short-term economic pressures against long-term environmental and public health goals—two visions of farming in tension at a critical moment for the planet.