Pesticides will be banned in all public green spaces while non-professional gardeners will no longer be able to buy pesticides over the counter

This is great news for the New Year!
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France bans pesticides in public green spaces

Associated Press: The Big Story, 29 Dec 2016
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bb2e0794b18c43e59225f688761c5961

French children will soon be able to frolic in the grass without risk of intoxication.

Pesticides will be banned in all public green spaces from Sunday while non-professional gardeners will no longer be able to buy pesticides over the counter.

The new measure is part of a larger green program adopted by French lawmakers that also includes a ban on plastic bags for vegetables.

The pesticide ban covers public forests, parks, and gardens, but local authorities are still allowed to use pesticides in cemeteries.

The new law also stipulates that pesticides will be prohibited in private gardens from 2019.