The European Parliament environment committee showed unfaltering firmness in Brussels on Thursday 23 June on three neonicotinoid bee-killing pesticides that have seen restrictions placed on their use in the EU and that could shortly be banned totally.
The three objections tabled by UK MEP Julie Girling (ECR) calling on Parliament to take a position opposing the extension and the toughening of the scope of the ban on these neonicotinoids were resoundingly defeated. The three neonicotinoids are Thiamethoxam (by Syngenta), Clothianidin and Imidacloprid (both by Bayer).
For Thiamethoxam, the objection was rejected by 43 votes to 8, with 7 abstentions; for Imidacloprid, the voting was 9 votes for the objection, 43 against and 6 abstentions; and for Clothianidin, 8 for the objection and 43 against, with 6 abstentions.
Through the objections, the Conservative MEP was trying to block, in the interest of crops, the proposal made by the Commission last March for a virtually total ban on the use of these three neonicotinoids in an effort to improve protection for bees, pollinators and the environment (see EUROPE 11757 and 11753).
The rejection was justified by clear support from Parliament for the ban on these substances known for lethal effects on pollinators.
“This is a blow to the chemicals industry which is trying to get its products in through the back door. MEPs have not let themselves be duped, well informed by the many studies into the health and environmental impact and the Europe-wide campaign by beekeepers, civil society and environmentalists over many years” rejoiced French Green MEP Michèle Rivasi.
“Of course I’m aware of the arguments of those who point out that the use of neonicotinoids is necessary for some crop yields and that, with no better alternative available, banning them could be counter-productive in terms of protecting the environment. However, there is broad scientific consensus on the impact of these three substances on bees”, stated her fellow countrywoman Françoise Grossetête (EPP).
The NGO PAN (Pesticide Action Network) Europe believes the three objections were “tailor-made for the pesticide industry to keep bee-killing pesticides in the market”. PAN Europe has shown that the current moratorium on the three neonicotinoids is being circumvented by the member states (see EUROPE 11728). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)