Neonicotinoid ban

Government sets out plans to end the use of toxic neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten vital pollinators

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Published: December 21, 2024
This Article was written by: Katie Hill - My Green Pod
bees, biodiversity, farming, farms, nature, pesticides, policy, politics, pollinators, soil, wildlife

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The government has confirmed its commitment to bringing in a complete ban on the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides in the UK, including their ‘emergency’ authorisation.

Over 1.6 million people signed a Greenpeace UK petition calling on the government to enforce a total ban on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides.

Toxic to pollinators

Despite being banned from general use in the UK, the last government authorised the use of neonicotinoids every year for the last four years in England via a process known as emergency authorisation.

Neonicotinoids are extremely toxic to pollinators. Even at doses that are not directly fatal to bees they can cause cognitive problems impacting foraging abilities and the productivity of hives.

The chemicals can also persist in the soil, creating a further risk to bees.

‘We are delivering on our promise to ban toxic bee-killing pesticides and ending the long-term decline of our wildlife.

‘A healthy environment is vital to our food and economic security. Protecting bees by stopping the use of damaging neonicotinoids is an important step in supporting the long-term health of our environment and waterways, and our farming sector.’

EMMA HARDY
Environment Minister

Pollinators and the economy

Bees and other pollinators are crucial to the agricultural economy with the economic benefits of pollination to crop production in the UK estimated at £500 million annually.

The government has set out its next steps, including identifying legislative options that would legally prevent the future use of three specific neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam – entirely, taking full account of the importance of pollinators.

‘There should be no place in this country for pesticides that poison our bees, period. So it’s good to see ministers confirming their commitment to a complete ban on these bee-killing chemicals, but now they should waste no time in bringing it into effect.

‘Bees, along with other vital pollinators, are essential for our survival – helping to sustain ecosystems and pollinating much of our food. But populations have been decimated over recent years, with the use of neonicotinoids one of the drivers of this decline.

‘The ridiculous doom-loop of annual ‘emergency’ authorisations of these toxic chemicals must be broken and farmers supported with switching to sustainable and bee-friendly crop production.’

DOUG PARR
Greenpeace UK’s policy director

A recent investigation from Unearthed revealed that the UK exported 8,500 tonnes of harmful pesticides that are banned from use on British farms last year, including enough of the notorious bee-killing neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam to spray an area bigger than England.