France, Aug. 7 -- France's Constitutional Council on Thursday rejected a controversial pesticide bill that would have allowed the reintroduction of acetamiprid - a chemical banned since 2018 due to its harmful effects on pollinators, ecosystems and human health. The bill drew strong public opposition, including a petition that collected more than 2.1 million signatures.

The court struck down the most contested part of the Duplomb law, ruling it violated France's Environmental Charter, which has constitutional status.

President Emmanuel Macron said he had "taken note of the Constitutional Council's decision" and would "promulgate the text as it results from this decision as soon as possible", the Elysee Palace said.

The council allowed ...