Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 29 October 2008.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will suspend immediately the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in order to protect honey bees.
I have no plans to suspend approval for the use of neonicotinoid insecticides.
The risk assessment process undertaken prior to the granting of the approval to market and use these pesticides established that the risks associated with the use of these products fell within acceptable limits.
The UK Government meet regularly with representatives of the European Commission and member states (including those which have recently imposed restrictions on the use of these chemicals), to discuss issues relating to pesticide approvals. The question of bee mortality and these pesticides was discussed at a recent meeting and at the 10th International symposium of the international commission for plant-bee relationships on hazards of pesticides to bees on 8-
In addition, the Government's wildlife incident investigation scheme reviewed a number of bee deaths reported to it this summer. No neonicotinoid pesticides were detected during analysis of the bee bodies.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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