Justice confirms the authorization of Avanza, this new pesticide used in rice fields

Les défenseurs de l’environnement s’inquiètent de la contamination des eaux par l’Avanza. Midi Libre – archives

Le pesticide controversé utilisé dans les rizières est bien autorisé : le tribunal administratif de Melun rejette les recours contre l’autorisation dérogatoire.

Two associations, France Nature Environnement and G̩n̩rations futures had filed an appeal against the use of the Avanza in the rice fields. The administrative court of Melun (in whose jurisdiction the manufacturer is located) has ruled: it rejects the request for suspension Рand therefore authorizes Рthe controversial pesticide. The marketing authorization issued by the Ministry of Agriculture for the fourth consecutive year covers a period of 120 days, from March 15 to July 15.

No study yet

The Court considered that this exceptional authorization did not have "a direct and significant effect on the environment in the current state of the evaluation carried out at European level". Justice also mentions the fact that the associations "do not report any element of a nature to seriously call into question"&nbsp ;current scientific knowledge, even if no study has yet been carried out on this new molecule.

The rice farmers' union highlights the fact that this exemption is also given to other European countries which produce rice, in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. And don't forget to recall that it is " fully committed alongside the French Rice Center, in the agroecological transition but that alternative technical solutions cannot be seriously implemented. considered only in the medium and long term".