The products concerned seriously affect the health of pollinators and especially bees. These bees play a vital role in the preservation of biodiversity and food security, since their contribution to the world’s major crops exceeds 150 billion euros, or 9.5% of the value of world food production. Moreover, neonicotinoids are particularly detrimental to other animal species.

The draft Law aims to prohibit the placement on the market of the products concerned (Article 4) from the date of publication of the Law (Article 7). By way of derogation, the Law will enter into force on 1 January 2021 for plant protection products intended for lettuce, endive, carrot, beetroot, chicory, red chicory and sugarloaf chicory crops and used in the context of agricultural activity by professional users holding a certificate as referred to in Article 5(2) of Directive 2009/128/EC establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides (Article 7). A sanction in the event of infringement is provided for (imprisonment from eight days to three years and a fine of 160 euros to 4,000,000 euros, or only one of these penalties) (Article 6).