Paris, Lille, Nantes, Grenoble and Clermont-Ferrand announced Thursday the ban on the use of pesticides on their territories, to put pressure on the government in the midst of controversy over the minimum distances between homes and spraying areas.
"We know the legal status of such decrees but it is for us to engage a concerted approach to change the law and contribute to the preservation of the invaluable heritage of biodiversity in our territories and the health of our fellow citizens", wrote the five municipalities in a joint statement, supporting mayors who have issued anti-pesticide orders against which the prefects have filed appeals.
"Make the government fold"
In the case of large cities and not rural communities housing cultures, this action is largely symbolic. The law already prohibits since 2017 the use of chemicals by communities to maintain green spaces and roads. Even ban since January for private individuals and gardeners who can only use plant protection products of natural origin. Remains mainly the green spaces of condominiums and businesses, including the SNCF, large user of glyphosate to weed its tracks and their immediate surroundings.
"In Lille, there are no fields, but (...) there are for example all the tracks belonging to the SNCF and which are often close to homes!", Commented Stéphane Baly, president of the group of elected EELV in Lille. "This joint approach with a number of mayors of major cities (...) is intended in particular to bend the government," he added.
The government wants to propose setting the minimum distance between homes and pesticide application areas at 5 to 10 meters depending on the crop, an arbitration denounced as minimalist by ecologists and associations. A draft decree is in public consultation since Monday and until October 1st.