News in brief:
-Â The French parliament, backed by President Macron’s administration, has approved a law protecting farmers from abusive lawsuits tied to noise and odour complaints.
– This legislation aims to shield established farms from legal challenges by newcomers in rural area and has sparked debates in the country.
The French parliament has approved a new law to safeguard farmers from ‘abusive’ lawsuits stemming from noise and odour complaints.
The legislation, spearheaded by ruling majority MP Nicole Le Peih and backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, aims to protect existing farms from legal challenges initiated by newly arrived residents in rural areas.
Justice Minister, Eric Dupond-Moretti, on micro-blogging site, X, formerly known as Twitter, asserted that the law will put an end to abusive lawsuits against farmers who do nothing but their job: feed us. He also added that the law was a common-sense proposal, country-side common-sense.
La loi sur les troubles anormaux du voisinage de @NicoleLePeih a été adoptée à lâ@AssembleeNat.
Câetait un texte attendu par le monde agricole et nous sommes au rendez-vous de nos obligations : celles dâaméliorer la vie de nos compatriotes. pic.twitter.com/xImZW3kY9Jâ Eric Dupond-Moretti (@E_DupondM) December 5, 2023
France has a long history of conflicts between urbanites who purchase homes in the countryside and then raise objections to the sounds and smells associated with rural living. The complaints often target the crowing of roosters, barking dogs, the noise of agricultural machinery, and the smell of manure.
According to news reports, nearly 500 farmers are currently engaged in legal battles with neighbours over noise and odour issues emanating from their farms. In a widely publicised case from 2019, a court ruled that a rooster named Maurice could continue his dawn crowing despite complaints from neighbors in a village located on a small island off France’s Atlantic coast.
France already introduced legislation in 2021 to protect the French countryside’s sensory heritage. The new law aims to provide stronger protection for established farms from legal challenges initiated by newcomers to the area.
Meantime, Franceâs Deputy Chairman of the farming union FNSEA, Luc Smessaert, expressed his support for the law as well. He declared on X that he too was proud to support those who work in the country’s fields.
Claire Desmares, an environmentalist from the Brittany region, however, expressed her disapproval to local radio France Bleu. She characterised the proposed measure as an absurd and populist move championed by the powerful agricultural lobby groups.
The debate surrounding the new law highlights the ongoing tensions between urban and rural lifestyles in France. This new law claims to be protecting the livelihoods of farmers. However, it remains to be seen how it will balance the rights of farmers with the concerns of those who choose to reside in rural areas.
