The European Commission regulation that will lower the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of two bee-killing pesticide active substances - clothianidin and thiamethoxam - in food and feed, whether produced in or imported into the EU, was adopted on Thursday 2 February.
The outdoor use of these two neonicotinoids has already been banned in the EU since 2018 based on an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that concluded that they are toxic to honey bees and wild bees (see EUROPE 12011/9).
Under the new rules, the existing MRLs will be reduced to the lowest level that can be measured with the latest technology.
This regulation, which will be applicable after a transition period, will allow environmental aspects to be taken into account when assessing applications for import tolerances for pesticides banned in the EU, while respecting World Trade Organization (WTO) standards and obligations.
The EU Member States gave their approval for this regulation to be adopted last September (see EUROPE 13030/7).
As a reminder, the EU Court of Justice recently condemned Belgium for misusing the emergency derogations of the Pesticides Regulation 1107/2009 (Article 53) to authorise the use of these two neonicotinoids (see EUROPE 13103/28). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)