In the light of new scientific data proving that two new generation neonicotinoids, sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone, approved in 2015 by the EU, are highly toxic to bees, MEP Éric Andrieu (S&D, France), who was the Chair of Parliament’s special ‘PEST’ committee, denounced, on Tuesday 8 December, Member States’ attempts to keep them on the market.
However, the Commission proposed that outdoor uses of sulfoxaflor should be banned on the basis of the EFSA evaluation and that the approval of flupyradifurone should be reviewed on the basis of the ‘Pesticides’ Regulation (1107/2009 /EC).
“In the case of sulfoxaflor, Member States such as Ireland, Hungary and Belgium, for example, silently supported by many others, are doing their utmost to maintain the authorisation of this product, which is recognised as toxic and biocidal. For flupyradifurone, it is the Netherlands that are leading the charge”, the MEP said in a statement.
In written questions, he asked the Commission whether, in light of the commitments on the Green Deal for Biodiversity, it “intends finally to review the validation procedure for this type of product and to ensure that the precautionary principle prevails”.
To the EU Council, he asks whether it can be relied upon “to defend biodiversity and to ensure that Member States adopt measures in accordance with available scientific information and in conformity with the law”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)