Why Emmanuel Giboulot? "Because I spoke out!"

 Emmanuel Giboulot

At 13.30 on Monday 24th February Emmanuel Giboulot will be up before the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Dijon to answer the charge of failing to treat his vines against la flavescence dorée as the law requires all vineyards in the Côte d'Or to do since June 2013. Giboulet has 10 hectares in the Côtes-de-Beaune and the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and farms biodynamically. The case has been brought by the Direction régionale de l'alimentation, de l'agriculture et de la forêt de Bourgogne (DRAAF de Bourgogne).

If found guilty Giboulet faces up to six months in prison and a fine of €30,000.

Emmanuel was showing his wines at the recent Renaissance tasting in Angers. He told me that he was far from the only vigneron who had to date not treated their vines against flavescence dorée. He didn't know how many hadn't but some producers hadn't bought the product, while some had but hadn't used it yet. 

He believes he has been picked out because he spoke out at meetings against using the treatment. Emmanuel has been accused of speaking to the press. He did, indeed, speak to the press but only in mid-November 2013. DRAAF de Bourgogne visited his domaine on 31st July.  

Emmanuel has been greatly heartened by the support he has received both from fellow producers and other people. A petition on change.og has attracted 15,829 signatures. Because of the level of support he has received, Emmanuel does not fear the proceedings against him.

See here and here.

  

A Citizens Picnic is planned for Noon on 24th in front of Dijon's Tribunal de Grande Instance  

Update: 18th February 2014. The L'Institut de Protection de la Santé Naturelle (ipsn.eu) is supporting Emmanuel Giboulot. They have launched a new petition here. It has attracted 154394 (10.11am) with the number rising by the second! 

 

11.30 am: 162409 signatures

Update: 21st February: number of signatures has reached: 418,982‏ by 18:25 CET.