The Government of France has submitted a draft order for public consultation which would authorize the use of sugar beet seeds treated with the neonicotinoids imidacloprid or thiamethoxam for a period of 120 days until 1 July 2023, in other words in adequate time for the 2023 sugar beet campaign which is expected to be sown in March 2023. The 2023 sugar beet campaign is the last campaign for which an order derogating from the neonicotinoid ban is likely to be adopted, the Ministry of Agriculture specified. Meanwhile, the French government has funded a national research and innovation plan (PNRI) for a total amount of more than 20 million euros with co-financing from Inrae, ITB and private companies, in particular seed companies, focused on combatting sugar beet yellows to provide operational solutions to farmers within three years. This year, 2023, will be the last year of scientific trials, with deployment of alternatives to neonicotinoids anticipated to be available for sugar beet sowing in March 2024.