The Gironde prefecture has announced the adoption of a forthcoming decree aimed at reducing exposure to pesticides near places welcoming children.
In Gironde, measures will be taken to limit the population’s exposure to pesticides. The Gironde prefecture has announced the upcoming adoption of a prefectural decree in the department, while several cases have recently revived the health problem in this wine region.
Poisoning, cancer …
Indeed, in May 2014 in Villeneuve, 23 students and a teacher were poisoned after fungicides were sprayed near their school. A judicial investigation has been opened.
A little later, during the summer, the National Institute of Sanitary Watch revealed an excess of cases of pediatric cancer in Preignac, in a nursery school located in the middle of the Sauternes vineyards.
These cases have left their mark on public opinion and prompted the reaction of doctors, grouped together under the Alerte Médecins Pesticides collective, who are calling for measures to protect populations from phytosanitary products.
“Concrete” actions
It is therefore in this context that the prefectural decree will be subject to “public consultation”, the prefecture said in a press release. In reality, it will only apply the provisions of the law future for agriculture, food and forestry, adopted in 2014. It promises a “concrete” translation of the provisions of the text in Gironde.
This decree “will make it possible to extend the precautionary measures, beyond schools, to other establishments welcoming children (crèches, day nurseries, etc.) as well as any other establishment capable of accommodating vulnerable people”, specifies the press release. It “will promote the establishment of protective devices, in particular the planting of hedges”, and finally, “will encourage the use by wine-growers of equipment limiting the dispersion of products”.
The prefecture further specifies that “the mayors will have a role to play for the proper implementation of these measures and their adaptation to the local context”. The decree will come into effect for the 2016 treatment campaign.
In addition, as reported by France Bleu, the Info Médoc Pesticides collective on the same day submitted its petition to the prefect of Gironde, Pierre Dartout. The appeal collected 84,600 signatures. It aims to require organic treatment of all agricultural plots near establishments welcoming children.
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