The two-year restrictions announced recently by the European Commission on three neonicotinoid chemicals is great news for bees, says the RSPB. Ellie Crane is the RSPB policy officer leading on pesticides. She said: “The European Food Safety Authority reviewed the evidence on neonicotinoids and found unacceptable risks and serious gaps in data. The ban is the right course of action under the precautionary principle.
“It is now vital that the next two years are used wisely to fill in the evidence gaps and monitor the impacts of the ban – including the use of alternative pesticides – on populations of pollinating insects.
“Critically, there should be a push to develop and promote safer alternatives to neonicotinoids – including non-chemical techniques.”
Range of options
The RSPB believes pest control in the EU should follow the principles of integrated pest management. Under this principle, farmers should use the full range of options available to manage pest populations, including crop rotations, encouraging natural enemies of pests, choosing pest-resistant crop varieties and maintaining healthy fertile soils. In addition, the careful monitoring of pest populations will minimise the need for pesticides. European Union governments should be actively promoting these principles to their farmers.
Ellie Crane added: “We are disappointed that the UK did not support the ban. However, we hope that our government will now strive to get the best result for UK farmers: helping them manage pests successfully and safely as part of wildlife-friendly systems of farming, without need for neonicotinoid pesticides.”
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Source: The RSPB – News: Pesticide Restrictions: Great News for Bees
