Question 17799 — dangerous products

Summary

Mr. Gabriel Amard draws the attention of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to the exemption granted to authorize the marketing of Avanza, a herbicide normally prohibited. Avanza is a herbicide used by rice farmers, particularly in the Camargue. It is made from benzobicyclon, a dangerous substance which, normally, is prohibited in France and which has never been approved at the level European. However, on March 19, 2024, the Minister granted a waiver to authorize the marketing of this herbicide for a period of 120 days, for the 4th consecutive year and without consulting the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. We can read in the exemption that benzobicyclon is classified as “dangerous for bees”, “very toxic for aquatic organisms” and that it causes “adverse long-term effects”. However, it is specifically indicated in the document that it must be applied in flooded rice fields, precisely where aquatic organisms, notably frogs, live. In addition, Avanza requires that the rice fields are not purged within 7 days following its use so that the molecule has time to dilute in the water. But the rice fields are not completely watertight and every year there are leaks in the hydraulic network, in particular because of holes made by coypu or American crayfish. Thus, it is certain that part of the product ends up in the hydraulic network, which has a significant impact on the entire ecosystem made up of fragile fauna and flora and classified Natura 2000. Furthermore, the exemption only authorizes the spraying of Avanza on plots " located outside a catchment protection perimeter for drinking water supply.” However, according to Christelle Aillet, mayor of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, certain municipalities like hers have a hydraulic system which only allows the evacuation of agricultural water to the ponds of the Vaccarès system, that is to say the Rhône and the Petit Rhône. This is precisely where part of the water from the rice fields is released after treatments. So, the situation is worrying regarding the possible pollution of the drinking water network which would have a significant impact on the health of residents. Mr. Minister, nineteen other exceptional authorizations have already been granted to pesticides banned for this year. While scientists agree that there is a lack of data regarding benzobicyclon, he asks why it systematically gives in to the demands of agricultural lobbies despite the precautionary principle, these perpetual exemptions defy the law in contempt of life.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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