In 2013, in a press release, the European Union restricted the use of three neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam) for use in treating seeds.
It is currently illegal to use the banned insecticides under European Union Law, but the ban is to be reviewed at the end of 2015. Despite this, the UK government decided last month to allow the use of two of the banned pesticides for a period of 120 days on a small percentage of England’s oil seed rape crop this fall.
Farms in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire have been given permission to use the pesticides after an “emergency application” by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). The NFU claims the product is needed for the autumn season, but FOE counters, saying the government’s decision was “unnecessary, unlawful and harmful” and didn’t meet the criteria for an emergency authorisation under the EU ban.
FOE bees campaigner Dave Timms told the Guardian, “The scientific case that these pesticides harm bees and other pollinators is absolutely overwhelming, which is why the ban should be extended to cover all uses.”
Representatives from the farmer’s union say the pesticide is absolutely needed to protect certified seeds from the ravages of the cabbage stem flea beetle, and farmers participating in the use of the pesticide will be asked to participate in scientific research on its effects on their crops.
The union doesn’t mention the scientific research done recently that shows bees are attracted to plants sprayed with the pesticide, actually preferring them over plants not sprayed. Digital Journal reported on this new research on August 9.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is not taking sides in the argument. A spokesperson said: “The EU commission introduced precautionary restrictions on neonicotinoids from December 2013, which the UK has fully implemented. The Government makes decisions on pesticides based on the recommendations of senior scientists and independent experts who have looked at the best available scientific evidence. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further on ongoing legal proceedings.”
The statement is rather interesting because in July, before the UK government made its decision to allow the use of the two pesticides, the Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP), part of the Health and Safety Executive agency, refused to back farmers requests for using the banned pesticides, according to the Guardian.
Then, to make matters even more mysterious, the ECP said that in an email, DEFRA requested they “postpone publication of the minutes [and July agenda].” The Guardian contends there was apparently some “gagging’ going on because of the sensitivity of some of the information. Perhaps it will all come to light in court.
