France, May 20 -- Presented by the government on Tuesday in response to the anger that swept through the farming sector during last winter's protests, the legislation is intended to offer what ministers describe as practical support for an industry under mounting economic and environmental pressure.

The discussions come as several decrees linked to the Agricultural Policy Act and the controversial Duplomb Act - a separate piece of legislation championed by conservative Senator Laurent Duplomb aimed at easing environmental and administrative constraints on farmers, particularly regarding pesticides, water storage and livestock farming - are yet to be published.

This means MPs are once again being asked to weigh measures aimed at supporti...