National plan against the yellow-legged Asian hornet adopted

The Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature is adopting the national plan to combat the yellow-legged Asian hornet, an invasive species that threatens biodiversity and beekeeping. The decision was made by the decree of September 9, 2026, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0216 of September 16, 2026, under number NOR TECL2609035A.

A legal framework based on the Environmental Code

The national plan is established in application of article L. 411-9-1-I of the Environmental Code, which provides for the development of a plan to combat invasive alien species. Article 1 of the decree enacts its adoption, thereby providing a national regulatory basis for the management strategy of this predator.

The yellow-legged Asian hornet, native to Asia, has been established in France for several years and exerts increasing pressure on domestic bee colonies. Its rapid expansion justifies a coordinated response across the territory, involving local authorities, beekeepers, and farmers.

The actors responsible for execution

Article 2 of the decree designates those responsible for the implementation of the plan, each within their respective jurisdiction:

• the Deputy Director of Water and Biodiversity;
• the Director General of Economic and Environmental Performance of Enterprises;
• the Director General of Food.

These three directorates must implement the plan within their respective fields of competence, from the protection of ecosystems to the agricultural and beekeeping sectors.

An annex detailing the system

The decree refers to an annex, available in the extract of the authenticated electronic Official Journal, which contains the full text of the plan along with its images. This document specifies the operational modalities of the fight, whether regarding surveillance, trapping, or the destruction of nests.

Scope for readers

With this adoption, France establishes a homogeneous national framework to organize the fight against the yellow-legged Asian hornet. Local authorities, beekeepers, and farmers now have an official reference to structure their actions, while State services are responsible for ensuring its execution across the entire territory.

Source: Decree of September 9, 2026, adopting the national plan to combat the yellow-legged Asian hornet, NOR TECL2609035A, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0216 of September 16, 2026.