Neonicotionoid Ban

The European Commission has proposed a partial ban on the use of four neonicotinoids used on flowering crops that are attractive to bees such as maize, rapeseed, sunflower, cotton and also spring barley and spring wheat.  The Commission presented its plans to member states during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) at the end of January.

The Commission’s initial proposal is for a two year ban of the neonicotinoids clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid on flowering crops and spring planted cereals.  Under the plans, the chemicals could continue to be used on crops such as potatoes and sugar beet which do not attract bees and winter cereals, when bee exposure is less.  There will be further consultation during February before the Commission publishes its full proposals.  It is expected that the issue will be voted on by Member States at the Standing Committee on Pesticides and Residues on 25^th February 2013.  The proposals have received support from France, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Slovenia and Austria.  But the UK, Hungary, Denmark and Spain have raised concerns. Some uses of neonicotinoids have already been banned in France, Germany, and Italy; there is a total ban in Slovenia.   If successful the ban could come into force as early as 1^st July 2013.