Pesticides: "It is urgent to reverse the asymmetric power balance with manufacturers"

The French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) faces unprecedented pressure from the government to evaluate a banned neonicotinoid pesticide within two months. This demand, driven by the sugar beet industry, threatens Anses' independence and resources, reflecting a political choice to prioritize economic interests over scientific integrity. The agency was established to ensure rigorous scientific evaluation following past health scandals, but recent laws and decrees undermine its mission by allowing the agriculture ministry to dictate pesticide approval processes, compromising public health safety.