Overview

• The Paris Administrative Court of Appeal ruled that the French state must compensate individuals for anxiety caused by exposure to chlordécone, a pesticide linked to severe health risks.
• Chlordécone was used in Martinique and Guadeloupe from 1972 to 1993 despite being banned in mainland France in 1990, contaminating soil, water, and food chains.
• Over 1,300 plaintiffs, including individuals and associations, sought damages of €15,000 per person for anxiety stemming from the risk of developing severe health conditions.
• The court recognized the state's negligence in authorizing prolonged pesticide use, failing to assess its environmental impact, and inadequately informing the affected populations.
• More than 90% of adults in Martinique and Guadeloupe are estimated to have been exposed to chlordécone, with elevated rates of prostate cancer and other health risks reported.