City slickers who move to the French countryside only to find the noise of crowing roosters, barking dogs, farm machinery or the smell of manure too much to bear will no longer find it so easy to complain.
The French parliament has passed a law aimed at limiting conflicts between neighbours and preventing “abusive” lawsuits by “neo-rural residents” against farmers.
The bill, proposed by ruling majority MP Nicole Le Peih and backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government, was approved by 78 votes to 12 and will now go to the Senate.
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said on social media platform X: “This law will put an end to abusive lawsuits against farmers who do nothing but their job: feed us. It is a common sense proposal, rural common sense”.
France and other Alpine countries have a long history of conflict between former city dwellers and their new rural neighbours.
In 2021, France introduced a law to protect “the sensory heritage of the French countryside”.
But the “Maurice the Rooster” law has proved difficult to enforce, with complaints of “abnormal neighbourhood nuisance” so far left to the discretion of judges.
According to BFM TV, nearly 500 farmers are currently facing legal action from neighbours who object to noise or odours emanating from their farms.
In 2019, Maurice, who lived on the coastal island of Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron in New Aquitaine, was allowed to keep crowing after objectors lost their case against his owner.
The new law is broader and states that no resident can use the law to challenge the activities of farmers who were there before they arrived.
So if a neighbour is bothered by an activity that took place before they arrived, they will not be able to file a complaint.
“It is also a way of guaranteeing uniform application throughout the national territory,” says Nicole Le Peih.
However, it does not give a “blank cheque” to those responsible for “abnormal disturbances” in the neighbourhood, she stressed.
If the activity does not comply with laws or regulations, particularly in environmental matters, the person responsible will be held accountable.
“I am proud to support those who work in our fields. Now to the Senate,” said Luc Smessaert, vice-president of the FNSEA agricultural union, on X.