4 d. ago The cancer patient who inspired French movement to block reintroduction of pesticide

Fleur Breteau tells of how case was merely a symptom of a wider problem contaminating food and water systemsOn the day French MPs gave themselves a round of applause for approving legislation to reintroduce a banned pesticide last month, a figure rose from the public gallery to shout: “You are supporters of cancer and we will make it known.”Fleur Breteau made it known. Her outburst and appearance – she lost her hair during chemotherapy for breast cancer – boosted a petition against the “Duplomb law” to well over 2m signatures. Continue reading...

Science

5 d. ago Plan to reintroduce banned pesticide in France overruled by constitutional council

‘Duplomb law’ provision to allow use of acetamiprid, toxic to pollinators, found not to abide by environmental charterFrance’s top constitutional authority has ruled against the reintroduction of a pesticide that is harmful to ecosystems, saying it is unconstitutional.The decision on Thursday night deals a blow to the government. It comes after weeks of opposition from the left, environmentalists and doctors, and a record-breaking 2m signatures on a petition against a bill that would have allowed a pesticide banned in France in 2020 to come back into use. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago French authority overrules plan to reintroduce banned pesticide

Constitutional Council says harms to the ecosystem posed by neonicotinoids would violate citizens’ rightsFrance’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”. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Shein fined €1m in Italy for misleading environmental claims about products

Chinese fast fashion retailer penalised month after €40m fine from French regulator in JulyThe Italian authorities have fined Shein €1m (£870,000) for making “misleading or omissive” environmental claims about its products, the second time in as many months the Chinese fashion retailer has been targeted by European regulators.Environmental sustainability and social responsibility messages on Shein’s website were in some cases “vague, generic, and/or overly emphatic” and in others were “misleading or omissive”, said Italy’s competition authority, AGCM. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Migrant boats head to UK as Starmer set to meet German leader to discuss people smuggling gangs

People crammed into inflatable dinghies were handed life jackets by French authorities as they left from Gravelines to make the dangerous journey across the English Channel

Events

4 w. ago French prisoner rearrested days after escape in cellmate’s laundry bag

Officers did not notice inmate’s disappearance for 24 hours, amid overcrowding across France’s prison systemA prisoner who escaped from a French jail hidden in a laundry bag has been rearrested, authorities have said, amid a continuing debate over prison security and overcrowding.Elyazid A, 20, known as “the Joker” or “the Equaliser”, was detained early on Monday morning as he emerged from a cellar in a village about 15 miles (25km) from Lyon-Corbas, the prison from which he escaped on Friday. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Prisoner’s escape in cellmate’s laundry bag fuels overcrowding debate in France

Officers did not notice inmate’s disappearance for 24 hours, amid overcrowding across France’s prison systemA prisoner who escaped from a French jail hidden in a laundry bag has been rearrested, authorities have said, amid a continuing debate over prison security and overcrowding.Elyazid A, 20, known as “the Joker” or “the Equaliser”, was detained early on Monday morning as he emerged from a cellar in a village about 15 miles (25km) from Lyon-Corbas, the prison from which he escaped on Friday. Continue reading...

Events