A tractor spreading pesticides - DENIS CHARLET / AFP

No agricultural spreading near dwellings or launching of public consultations for "pesticide" charters between farmers and residents in full confinement: a group of associations asked this Thursday to "protect local residents". These NGOs, led by Générations Futures, want "the prefects to ban pesticide spraying near homes and to postpone sine die public consultations around 'pesticide' charters".

Spreading of #pesticides: prefects must protect local residents, not make the situation worse! Our NGOs invite citizens to question them on this subject today! Https: //t.co/JE0nFQGRv5 @afpfr @missplanete @StephaneMandard @AuroreCoulaud @Veillerette pic.twitter.com/nOVodPE7C7

- Future Generations (@genefutures) April 16, 2020

The government has set spreading distances. Five meters for so-called low crops such as vegetables and cereals, ten meters for tall crops, fruit or vines, 20 meters for the “most dangerous” products, which represent around 0.3% of the active substances used, with derogations possible. So-called “good neighbor” charters must be adopted locally.

"The period is not conducive to a serene consultation"

Associations and local residents draw attention to "the particularly painful situation currently experienced by many people confined to their homes [...] and who must undergo the drift of sprayed pesticides very close to their homes", argues Future Generations . In addition, charters "are currently available for public consultation in certain departments" in full confinement, making it complicated "the possibility for civil society to really participate in these public consultations", denounces the association.

It has counted at least 13 departments where consultations will end in late April or late May. "The period is not conducive to a serene and truly democratic consultation of the various stakeholders," argues Future Generations, which launched a site to challenge the prefects and request a postponement of these consultations. "The current period requires that public health issues become real priorities and that strong measures be taken in the use of pesticides," asks the association.

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