“Environmentalists with placards are clowns”: the senator from Hérault explains his vote on the return of a controversial pesticide

Jean-Pierre Grand a voté pour la réintroduction de l’acétamipride. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

Jean-Pierre Grand fait partie des 197 sénateurs qui ont voté la réintroduction de l’acétamipride, un néonicotinoïde dangereux pourtant interdit depuis quelques années en France. Il s’explique sur le sujet.

It is one of the pesticides labeled as “bee killers”. Banned for several years in France, but still authorized in Europe, acetamiprid could make its big comeback: the Senate voted to reauthorize the use of this neonicotinoid on January 27.

A scandal for some, a compromise to save farmers for others, this vote is causing a stir…

So when the Hérault senator Jean-Pierre Grand was questioned on this subject in the corridors of the Senate by a journalist from Vakita, the man was somewhat disturbed. He is one of the 197 senators who voted for this reintroduction, 111 voted against.

“Farmers are the first environmentalists”

Asked by a journalist from Vakita about his choice of vote, Jean-Pierre Grand retorted: “Farmers are the first environmentalists on the planet. Those who walk the streets with placards are clowns.” Before taking his leave and ending the exchange.

The senator's details

Jean-Pierre Grand entrusted it to Midi Libre: “It's a group vote, I'm not a specialist on the issue, but Article 2 of the bill aims to remove constraints on practicing the profession of farmer.

“At the European level, EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, has banned 3 neonicotinoids, but it maintains the authorization of acetamiprid (a foliar neonicotinoid) until 2033. France, for its part, banned all neonicotinoids in 2018. Since then, certain sectors have found themselves in a dead end, such as hazelnuts. In 2024: 6,500 tonnes of hazelnuts were harvested out of the potential 13,000 tonnes, due to the hazelnut worm, including 2,000 unfit for consumption due to the marmorated stink bug.”

Before concluding that “this bill opens up the possibility of an exemption by decree, exceptionally, after consulting the supervisory board, when certain conditions are met, such as the non-existence of an available alternative, among others.”

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