Brussels, 01/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Greens have welcomed the European Commission's proposal for a two-year suspension of the use of the three neonicotinoid pesticides or insecticides (imidaclopride, thiamethoxam and clothianidine) most harmful to the health of honeybees (see EUROPE 10776). They describe this proposal as a step in the right direction, but they are calling for a total ban on the use of neonicotinoids in order to stem the plummeting numbers of bees in Europe.
“We welcome the Commission's proposal to take swift regulatory measures given the urgency of the situation. Nonetheless, instead of a partial suspension for two years of neonicotinoid insecticides for cotton, sunflower, maize and oilseed rape, we are calling for a total ban. When France banned Gaucho in 1999, other neonicotinoid insecticides could be used The (bee) populations continued to decline, the company which produces Gaucho tried to use this argument to call into question the ban on neonicotinoid insecticides. We need to avoid this scenario in 2015”, said MEP Sandrine Bélier (Greens/EFA, France). Above and beyond the “unequivocal” conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the high risk of neonicotinoids for bees, the Greens/EFA point out that, in its report on the precautionary principle, the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows major shortcomings in the European and national risk assessments and surveillance systems, which have long allowed neonicotinoids seriously to affect populations of pollinating insects.
Greenpeace International is also of the opinion that, given the rate at which the colonies are collapsing, a partial ban offers only a very limited guarantee. “The Commission's proposal is a very welcome first step to attack the harmful effects of pesticides on bees, but the Commission should have recommended a broader ban covering the use of neonicotinoids in all cases in which EFSA has identified a lack of data. Decisive action to protect our natural environment and European agro-food production is required”, says Marco Contiero of the European office of Greenpeace. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 84% of the 264 main plants cultivated in Europe depend on pollenisation, principally by bees, and this is also the case in 90% of wild plants. (AN/transl.fl)