Recently, the French government has created a tense atmosphere towards agencies that protect our environment and health. This hostility has come from high-ranking officials, including the president and the prime minister. They have spread false information and questioned the honesty of public servants. Some have even encouraged violence against these officials, threatened significant budget cuts, and suggested changes that would weaken these agencies’ independence from large companies.
In late November 2024, farmers protested outside the National Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), calling for its closure. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard openly supported this movement, even as Prime Minister François Bayrou kept her in her position the following month.
The attacks on the pesticide regulator have become serious. On January 27, the government introduced an amendment to a bill aimed at reducing restrictions on farmers. This has alarmed leaders at ANSES, who worry that their roles are at risk. They fear that their expert evaluations may come under the influence of industry and agricultural groups. The French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) faces similar threats, with several members of the right-wing calling for its closure in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
