Since 2016, dimethoate, a pesticide considered to be very toxic, polluting and dangerous, has been banned from the cherry cultivation in France. In a decree published on April 20th in the Official Journal, the country has once again banned the import and marketing of fresh cherries from countries which allow the use of the contentious dimethoate pesticide to treat cherry trees. The cherries grown organically, in accordance with the European norms, are allowed. This measure has been renewed each year since 2016.
The ban on this pesticide had angered farmers who considered it to be the only effective treatment against the Asian fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii), an aggressive pest in cherry orchards. In the absence of a global ban on dimethoate in the European Union, France is once again playing its national safeguard clause against the cherry-producing countries that still use the rejected pesticide, like Austria, Croatia, Turkey, Argentina and Chile.
Source: sudouest.fr