Cadmium: The National Assembly adopts a bill to reduce French exposure to this toxic metal

The National Assembly on Wednesday adopted at first reading a bill aimed at reducing the population's exposure to cadmium, a heavy metal known for its harmful effects on health. The bill, sponsored by Green Party MP Benoît Biteau with the support of Clémentine Autain, among others, was approved by 144 votes to 22, despite opposition from the government, which considers the proposed trajectory too restrictive for the agricultural sector.

The text provides for an accelerated reduction of the permitted cadmium levels in phosphate fertilizers, the main source of contamination in agricultural soils. While France currently benefits from an exemption allowing it to use fertilizers containing up to 90 mg/kg of cadmium, members of parliament want to reduce this threshold to 40 mg/kg by 2027 and then to 20 mg/kg from 2030. This is a more ambitious trajectory than that envisioned by the government, which planned to reach this level only in 2038.

A major health issue

According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), nearly one in two French people now have cadmium exposure levels exceeding health reference values. This heavy metal gradually accumulates in soils and then in food, particularly cereals, before being absorbed by the body. Prolonged exposure is associated with increased risks of cancer, kidney problems, bone fragility, and reproductive harm.

The government shares the objective of reducing exposure but is concerned about the economic consequences of too rapid a transition. The Minister Delegate for Ecological Transition, Mathieu Lefèvre, warned of potential supply chain disruptions for fertilizers and a risk to the competitiveness of French agriculture. Proponents of the legislation, on the other hand, believe that technical solutions for reducing exposure to cadmium already exist and that their cost would remain limited for farmers.

A text still awaited in the Senate

Supported by the entire left wing as well as the MoDem, Horizons, and Renaissance groups, the bill must now continue its parliamentary journey in the Senate. The National Rally voted against the text, denouncing a measure likely to further weaken French farms.

Environmental groups and several scientists nevertheless welcome this as a significant step forward in public health. They point out that France remains one of the European countries most exposed to cadmium and consider the adoption of this law to be a major step towards a lasting reduction in the presence of this contaminant in the French food supply.