Flowering vineyards, pollinating insects and the use of plant protection products: a matter of “attraction” before the French Conseil d’Etat (CE, 26 April 2024)

This article examines the recent judgment of the French Conseil d'État annulling, in so far as it mentions lentils, peas, soya and vines, the list of crops considered unattractive to bees or other pollinating insects. The ruling by the national Court carries significant consequences for wine production, as it entails temporal restrictions on the use of plant protection products in flowering vineyards. Therefore, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the role of the European Union and Member States’ legislation in ensuring the sustainability of the sector, given the increasingly evident interplay between pollinators’ activity, agricultural practices and wine production.