“For the second time [the European Union Member States] failed to agree on the European Commission’s proposal for a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides.”
Syngenta’s media release is below.
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EU Member States again fail to agree restriction on key crop protection technology
Syngenta today acknowledged that European Union (EU) Member States for the second time failed to agree on the European Commission’s proposal for a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. The latest decision should compel the Commission to return to the negotiating table rather than forcing through the implementation of a ban.
Syngenta Chief Operating Officer, John Atkin, said: “The European Commission has again failed to win the necessary support for its proposed ban on this vital technology. The proposal is based on poor science and ignores a wealth of evidence from the field that these pesticides do not damage the health of bees. Instead of banning these products, the Commission should now take the opportunity to address the real reasons for bee health decline: disease, viruses and loss of habitat and nutrition.”
The proposed ban was triggered by a hurried and highly theoretical review by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). It made fundamental mistakes including a serious over-estimation of the amount of pesticide bees are exposed to in the field. It also ignored key studies and independent monitoring, including recent data from the UK Government, which found no evidence that neonicotinoids impact bee health.
Bee health decline is among the biggest challenges facing agriculture. Syngenta again called on the European Commission to broaden efforts to tackle the real causes of bee health decline. The company highlighted the recent launch of its own bee health action plan, which complements its work over the past 10 years through the Operation Pollinator initiative.
MT Geoff “Last I heard, neonicotinoid chemicals had nothing to do with bee decline” who were you listening to? John Atkins from Syngenta the EPA, USDA or maybe Croplife America. Neonicotinoids are highly toxic to bees and there are dozens of independent studies that have made the connection. Don’t come on here saying (The last I heard).
This wasn’t the European Parliament, but the Council of Ministers and the voting has to have a “qualified majority” to come to a decision either yes or no. With a no majority for or against in the original committee, and then the council of ministers the decision goes back to the Commission, who have usually followed the EFSA recommendation. Thus, the expectation is that the ban will come into force unless there is a re-evaluation at EFSA. Hence Syngenta trying to get a shot in to push for the re-eval. Hope they make it – the alternatives to the neo-nics are much worse……
1. Last I heard, neonicotinoid chemicals had nothing to do with bee decline, so restricting them will do for the bees what “gun-free zone” does for malls.
2. Perhaps Europe’s MEPs are less economically suicidal than I thought, but it will take more than one good decision in more than one are to convince me.