Brussels, 02/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - At a hearing organised on Monday by the EP's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, the representatives of EU beekeepers called for emergency measures to prevent their profession disappearing in areas where plants liked by bees are grown (sunflower, colza and maize) but where the use of a new generation of neurotoxic products has led to a reduction in the size of bee colonies. The beekeepers are calling for a ban on the use of new pesticides for all plants liked by bees; the use of techniques to ensure that bee-favoured plants to not flower next to plants treated with such pesticides; and aid for beekeepers who have lost a large proportion of their colonies. The beekeepers are calling for an expert committee to be set up to design a new set of texts guaranteeing that treatment products on the market are not damaging to bees. They also want EU cooperation to study the effects of this new generation of pesticides on bees. The beekeepers are also calling for the promotion of substitute products that are not poisonous for bees.