The FNSEA prefers local solutions to protect residents from pesticide application, rather than a strict delimitation by law, said Saturday a spokesman for the agricultural union. "The objective is that there are no areas of non-treatment and to develop the charters, the dialogue in the field with the mayors and the associations of residents, so that we can find solutions where everyone is there, "said Christian Durlin, vice-president of the environment commission at the FNSEA.
The government had indicated Saturday morning that it would propose to set at 5 or 10 meters, depending on the type of crop, the minimum distance between homes and pesticide application areas, following the scientific recommendations of the National Agency sanitary security (ANSES). The establishment of these areas of non-treatment will take place where "there is no charter of residents", however said Wednesday the Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume. "We have always been in favor of talking about this problem by territory, because the stakes are not at all the same from one territory to another", detailed Christian Durlin.
"A very important shortfall" worries the FNSEA
In addition, the union opposes the establishment of non-treatment areas because "these are important withdrawals of agricultural land, which represents a very significant loss of earnings, especially in peri-urban areas", a also explained the vice-president of the environment commission of the FNSEA. "We think that it is especially important to be based on alternatives," he added, citing for example the use of hedges or specific equipment to avoid pesticide drift outside the plots.
The rules concerning the development of charters and minimum distances to be respected for the application of pesticides "will appear in texts that will come into effect on January 1, 2020," said Matignon.
Mayors mobilized
Mayors of all political stripes have recently increased anti-pesticide orders throughout France after the suspension of the much publicized that of the mayor of Langouet (Ille-et-Vilaine), Daniel Cueff. The latter took a decree on 18 May prohibiting the use of plant protection products "at a distance of less than 150 meters from any cadastral parcel including a residential or professional building". A text that was suspended Tuesday, August 27 by the administrative court of Rennes.