French President Emmanuel Macron challenges legality of town’s glyphosate weed killer ban

Arthur Neslen, Eddy Wax, Eline Schaart | Politico | August 27, 2019

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French President Emmanuel Macron told a mayor from Brittany who ordered a ban on the use of pesticides near his village that he had the right intentions but should still respect the law. Mayor Daniel Cueff issued a decree in May, ordering a ban on all pesticide use within a 150-meter radius of the village of Langouët. Cueff said he wanted to protect local people’s health. But regional authorities argue he doesn’t have the authority to impose such a ban. Cueff appeared [recently] before an administrative court in Rennes to defend his decision.

MACRON GIVES GLYPHOSATE BAN MAYOR A DRESSING DOWN:

Off the Cueff: In an interview with French media outlet Konbini, Macron said he supported the mayor “in his intentions” but “there are laws and [the prefect] must enforce them, so I will always be behind the prefects who enforce the laws.” Macron said “the solution is not to issue a decree that doesn’t comply with the law” but rather “to mobilize to change the law.” He said the French government would move quickly with legislation to ensure pesticides can only be applied in specific zones as it was clear that heavy pesticide use had effects on public health.