Police detained about 50 protesting farmers in Paris on Wednesday after they forced their way into a building housing the agriculture ministry, underscoring growing anger over the government’s response to the sector’s concerns.

Farmers have staged demonstrations and roadblocks across France since December, protesting the handling of a lumpy skin disease outbreak in cattle and voicing broader opposition to national agricultural policy.

Despite Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s pledge to introduce an emergency bill to ease pressure on the sector, protests continued on Wednesday, with further actions planned for Thursday.

About 100 members of the Confederation Paysanne union entered part of the ministry building and occupied it for about an hour, denouncing government agricultural policies.

Paris police said 50 people were taken into custody for disturbing public order and for several alleged criminal offenses.

A representative of the agriculture ministry filed a complaint, police said.

Confédération Paysanne said 52 people were being held and called for a rally outside a police station in northern Paris to protest what it described as the government’s “constant contempt” for farmers.

“The agriculture ministry has filed a complaint against a peaceful action carried out without any violence,” the union said in a statement, demanding the release of those detained.

Government stance

Lecornu said Tuesday he had instructed Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard to draft an emergency agriculture bill addressing farmers’ concerns.

The proposed legislation would focus on water access, predation, and production resources and is expected to be presented ahead of a major agricultural show next month, Lecornu said in a post on X.

Farmer unions, however, have criticized the plan, saying it falls short of addressing their demands and warning that protests will continue.