France passes law to protect farmers against neighbours' complaints over noise and smells

FILE PHOTO: A cow grazes in a meadow in Saint-Leonard, France, September 16, 2023. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - French parliament has passed a law to protect farmers from complaints from neighbours about noise or stench from agricultural activities, to stop "abusive" lawsuits from former city dwellers who bought houses in the countryside.

The bill, put forward by ruling majority MP Nicole Le Peih and supported by President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government, was approved 78 votes to 12 overnight on Monday and will now proceed to the Senate.