Paris (AFP)
The FNSEA prefers "case-by-case" solutions to protect the residents of farms from pesticide applications, rather than a strict legal delimitation that would lead to loss of income, said Wednesday the president of the first agricultural organization Christiane Lambert.
"That local residents are asking questions, it is normal, in view of all that is said, including fake, on pesticides, that we seek solutions on a case by case basis to see how to protect residents, it's normal, "said Lambert on Radio Classique.
The official criticized the initiative of the mayor of Langouët (Ille-et-Vilaine) who issued a decree prohibiting the use of plant protection products "at a distance of less than 150 meters from any cadastral parcel including a residential building. or professional ".
"Why not 200 or 300 meters?" she asked. "Why not the same thing for cars that would no longer have the right to park in the town?" Each mayor can not, like that, decide for himself on very complex subjects and which fall under the authority of the 'State". The decree was suspended Tuesday by the court.
According to Ms. Lambert, a generalization by law of this ban throughout France would have the effect of "ensauvage 15% of French territory". "And who will pay?" she wondered, saying that she would soon meet the Minister of the Ecological Transition Elisabeth Borne on this subject.
Ms. Borne said Tuesday to share "totally the concern of the mayor of Langouët" and announced a draft regulation to establish a "minimum area between spraying and housing."
Ms. Lambert regretted the "anti-pesticide" "radicalization" of "certain activists" which, according to her, contributes to sometimes fostering hostility towards farmers.
"There was so much buzz + to demonize, from associations that I will not name (...) to demonize phytos and say that a world without phyto is quite possible, while 'We know very well that a world without medicine' is not, she said.
"There is a misunderstanding that has been created, probably some activists have gone a bit far in the demonization," she added, nevertheless, welcoming that during the parliamentary debate on the trade agreement with Canada (CETA), the environmentalists were on the same side as the FNSEA against the government.
© 2019 AFP