EU member state experts on the plants, animals, food and feed (PAFF) committee held an exchange of views on Wednesday 13 December on the European Commission proposal for a virtually total ban on three neonicotinoid bee-killing pesticides but no vote has been taken at this stage (see EUROPE 11919).
The three pesticides are thiamethoxam (produced by Syngenta), clothianidin and imidacloprid (all produced by Bayer).
“The discussions will continue at the next meeting of the standing committee at the start of 2018”, the European Commission said, pointing out the meeting’s very full agenda.
The Commission proposal seeks to ban all agricultural use of these three neonicotinoid pesticides, except in permanent greenhouses. It is based on the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion, which concluded that the pesticides were highly toxic, and on the fact that there is no risk to bees if plants are treated in permanent glasshouses and remain there throughout their life cycle.
Three draft implementing regulations amending Implementing Regulation 540/2011 on the conditions for authorisation of each of the three active substances have been tabled (see EUROPE 11753). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)