Paris Court of Appeal Confirms No Conviction in Chlordécon Scandal in the Antilles

Paris – 22.06.2026: The Paris Court of Appeal has upheld the January 2023 decision by a Paris court to discontinue investigations into the Chlordécon scandal. This case concerns the use of the pesticide Chlordécon in the Antilles, which was applied in banana plantations until 1993, despite being banned in France since 1990. The Court of Appeal’s ruling has caused significant discontent in the Antilles, especially in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

In January 2023, two Parisian judges halted the investigations into the Chlordécon scandal, describing the case as a “health scandal.” They emphasized the “environmental pollution,” whose “human, economic, and social consequences” would affect the quality of life of residents of Martinique and Guadeloupe for many years.

Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the case, the judges decided that the evidence was insufficient for a criminal conviction and that some offenses were time-barred. This decision has now been confirmed by the Paris Court of Appeal. The Attorney General of the Court of Appeal had previously requested confirmation of the non-conviction, recognizing the severity of the health scandal but stressing that the evidence was inadequate for criminal prosecution and that some offences had expired due to the statute of limitations.

The ruling by the Court of Appeal has triggered strong reactions in the Antilles. Some residents and local politicians criticized the decision as a “denial of justice” and highlighted the ongoing health and ecological impacts of Chlordécon use. They called for a broader acknowledgment of responsibility and compensation for the affected communities.

Despite the judicial decisions, the debate over the state’s responsibility and compensation for victims of the Chlordécon scandal remains a central issue in the Antilles. In February 2025, the public rapporteur before the Paris Administrative Court of Appeal emphasized the responsibility of the French state in connection with the scandal. He stated that the “state’s fault existed from the outset,” particularly regarding the approval of the pesticide in 1972, even though the product’s danger had been known since 1969.

Despite this acknowledgment of state responsibility, compensation measures remain limited. In March 2025, the Paris Administrative Court of Appeal recognized the state’s liability for the Chlordécon scandal but restricted compensation to nine men with prostate cancer, who received between 5,000 and 10,000 euros for “moral damage due to fear.” Women and other affected groups were excluded from compensation measures.

The recent confirmation of non-conviction by the Paris Court of Appeal underscores the ongoing challenges in the legal resolution of the Chlordécon scandal and the persistent demands for justice and compensation for affected communities in the Antilles.