Proposals to extend the current restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids are set to be discussed by Member States in Brussels this week.
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In the UK, these proposed restrictions would include all uses of imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam on cereals, sugar beet and vegetable crops.
When the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed meets on Friday (27 April) it will discuss European Commission proposals to extend current neonicotinoid restrictions (covering uses on flowering crops, spring-sown cereals and maize) to capture all uses on crops grown outdoors, as a precautionary measure to protect pollinators.
The discussions follow the publication of updated risk assessments by the European Food Safety Authority in February, and last year’s announcement of UK government support for further restrictions.
The NFU is making the case to the UK Government and European Commissioners that the evidence still does not justify blanket restrictions on neonicotinoid use – with no clear evidence they’re causing widespread declines in bee populations, or that bans will deliver measurable benefits for pollinator populations.
In fact, there is evidence that major declines in key pollinator biodiversity actually pre-date the use of neonicotinoids by decades.
Last year, the largest ever field study on this issue proved inconclusive.
It assessed 84 different factors looking at how bees are impacted by neonicotinoid seed treatments – for 75 of these there was no effect at all, in six cases there was a significant harmful effect, and in three cases neonicotinoid use was associated with significant positive effects on bee health.
None of the effects occurred consistently across different countries.
While the NFU continues to make the case for neonicotinoids, it is encouraging members to do the same – to explain to decision makers (MPs, MEPs, UK Government and EU Commissioners) the impact further restrictions would have on food production and the environment on your farm – and challenge them on what assessment they have made of these impacts.
Encouragingly there has been much discussion in the EU about these impacts – recognising the problems a wider ban would create for farmers, particularly in milder climates like the UK, which favour slug and aphid pests of cereal, horticultural and sugar beet crops. ■