From January 1, 2019, only plant protection and other gardening products
of natural origin have been available to home gardeners in France. This was originally to have been from Jan 2022 but
was brought forward as part of the French move towards reducing the use of products
that are harmful to both humans and the wider environment. This follows the
banning in 2017 of the use of Glyphosate, (Roundup), and other synthetic
pesticides in public spaces including public roads, parks and cemeteries. (The
term Pesticides is used generically these days to cover all “cides”, herbicide,
fungicide, insecticide etc. to avoid laborious repetition).
The use of synthetic
pesticides continues to be permitted for farmers and professionals registered
to work in the gardening business.
Synthetic pesticides are “a
substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a
process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring
plant, animal, or mineral sources.” Synthetic pesticides are often referred to
as conventional pesticides.
Of course natural products
can be equally as harmful if used excessively or in concentrated form. For
example salt, vinegar, detergents and even Jeyes fluid are often promoted as
being natural but all can and will cause serious environmental harm.
Natural products that have
been approved can be found on this PDF list.
https://agriculture.gouv.fr/telecharger/107938?token=05114b30f4d7c166288d72c1a15d4127da868bf56deb89544941882be8241c2f
Chris
