Controversy Surrounds Acetamiprid’s Toxicity in France
Debate over the toxicity of acetamiprid has intensified following the European Food Safety Authority’s 2024 recommendation to significantly reduce the substance’s recommended daily intake due to “major uncertainties” regarding its impact on the development of the nervous system, reports 24brussels.
In response, France’s National Order of Physicians has publicly opposed the Loi Duplomb, asserting that “doubt is not reasonable when it comes to substances that may expose the population to major risks: neurodevelopmental disorders, pediatric cancers, chronic diseases.” This statement highlights the pressing health concerns surrounding chemical exposures.
Laboratory and animal studies have suggested that acetamiprid may inflict DNA damage or function as a hormone disruptor, both potential pathways to cancer. Conversely, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asserts that the chemical is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.”
French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed any official response to the highly publicized petition against the law until the Constitutional Council delivers its ruling. Two constitutional challenges to the Loi Duplomb have been brought forward: one emphasizing environmental rights, while the other disputes the expedited process that circumvented a full debate in the National Assembly.
If the court approves the Loi Duplomb, Macron will have limited options. The petition has surpassed the threshold of 500,000 signatures, potentially sparking a parliamentary debate, though the government is not obliged to hold another vote as the law has already been enacted.
Alternatively, Macron may opt not to implement the bill, a rare decision that could attract criticism for undermining the authority of the legislature. Regardless of the outcome, this issue seems set to follow the French president, illustrating significant factional divides even within his coalition. During the final vote last month, 26 of the 176 MPs in Macron’s three-party alliance opposed the legislation, while 15 chose to abstain.
