What does the law say about the Asian hornet?
The Asian hornet is listed as an invasive alien species at European level. In France, law no. 2025-237 of 14 March 2025 created a national plan and departmental control plans, written into article L. 411-9-1 of the environment code. The implementing decree dates from 30 December 2025 and the plan launched on 27 March 2026.
What is the species' legal status?
Vespa velutina nigrithorax appears on the list of invasive alien species of Union concern, which bans its transport, keeping and deliberate introduction, and commits member states to organising surveillance.
Under French law the species has fallen for several years within the animal health arrangements applying to the honeybee. The 2025 law adds a structured and funded control framework on top of that.
What did the law of 14 March 2025 change?
It inserted two articles into the environment code, L. 411-9-1 and L. 411-9-2, moving control from scattered local initiatives to a coordinated national scheme.
- A national control plan setting the direction and the indicators for surveillance, prevention and destruction.
- A classification of departments by predation pressure.
- Departmental plans drawn up by the prefect, with the departmental council, the municipalities and local stakeholders, organising reporting and nest destruction.
- Funding from the State, local authorities and the economic sectors concerned.
- A compensation scheme for beekeepers' economic losses, referring to article L. 361-3 of the rural and maritime fishing code.
Where does implementation stand?
The implementing decree was published on 30 December 2025, making the scheme operational. The national plan launched on 27 March 2026 with 3 million euros a year, for a renewable six-year term, structured around three priorities and eight actions.
The departmental level drives most of what a private individual actually experiences: reporting arrangements, destruction campaigns and any financial support are decided there.
The framework is still moving. Check with your prefecture or your departmental animal health group how far the local plan has progressed before relying on an announced subsidy.
Who pays for nest removal?
The law did not shift the cost onto the public purse. On private property, removal stays with the owner. On public land, it falls to the municipality.
Departmental plans may introduce partial or full cover, and many municipalities already did so before 2025. These schemes are not automatic and usually require a request before the work is carried out.
Frequently asked questions
Must I have a nest on my property removed?
No general obligation applies to private individuals. A municipal or prefectural order can create one locally, in particular when the nest threatens a public place or a building open to the public.
Is reporting a nest compulsory?
No, it stays voluntary. It does however feed the surveillance that departmental plans rest on, and in practice it is what triggers organised destruction campaigns.
Can you legally remove a nest yourself?
Professional use of the biocides involved requires the Certibiocide certificate in France, and work at height calls for suitable insurance. Beyond the rules, doing it yourself carries a serious risk of injury and usually fails.