France to call for withdrawal of dangerous pesticides

The French government could demand faster action from the European Commission on the process of eliminating dangerous pesticides from the market.

Campaigners have welcomed proposals by the environment ministry to call on the EU executive to terminate as soon as possible pesticides classified as carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or endocrine disruptors.

The ministry has launched a consultation on a draft roadmap on plant protection chemicals, which is due to be finalised by the end of 2018. The plan aims to rapidly reduce the use of substances of greatest concern to health and the environment, and to strengthen research on the effects of chemicals and safer alternatives.