French authority overrules plan to reintroduce banned pesticide

Constitutional Council says harms to the ecosystem posed by neonicotinoids would violate citizens’ rights

France’s top constitutional authority has ruled that a controversial measure to allow the reintroduction of a banned pesticide harmful to ecosystems is unconstitutional.

The Constitutional Council said that exemptions to the ban on products containing neonicotinoids would violate France’s environmental charter, which constitutionally guarantees the “right to live in a balanced and healthy environment”.