French farmers threaten to block Paris to push for risky pesticide re-introduction
French farmers are planning to block highways around Paris from Monday as part of a series of protests calling for the French parliament to adopt a bill that would loosen restrictions on a risky pesticide and water use in farming.
France's main farming unions have been angered by amendments in the lower house of parliament to reverse Senate-approved proposals to re-authorise a pesticide accused of harming bees. The amendments would also reverse proposals loosening restrictions around water use to promote irrigation reservoirs.
The action follows protests by farmers last year in France and across Europe over red tape and cheap foreign competition, after which they obtained some concessions at French and EU levels.
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