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Bee deaths: EU delays action on pesticides ban Bee deaths: EU delays action on pesticides ban
(about 2 hours later)
EU nations have been unable to reach agreement on proposals to ban the use of three pesticides that have been linked to the decline of bees.EU nations have been unable to reach agreement on proposals to ban the use of three pesticides that have been linked to the decline of bees.
The European Commission had called for a two-year EU-wide moratorium, but a number of nations opposed the plans.The European Commission had called for a two-year EU-wide moratorium, but a number of nations opposed the plans.
A recent report by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) concluded that the pesticides posed a "high acute risk" to pollinators, including honeybees.A recent report by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) concluded that the pesticides posed a "high acute risk" to pollinators, including honeybees.
The commission is expected to redraft its proposals ahead of another vote.The commission is expected to redraft its proposals ahead of another vote.
Member states were unable to reach a qualified majority in order for the proposals to be adopted.Member states were unable to reach a qualified majority in order for the proposals to be adopted.
The news of the stalemate has angered groups that had been campaigning in favour of the ban.The news of the stalemate has angered groups that had been campaigning in favour of the ban.
Legal advice Unknown consequences
Avaaz condemned the UK's and Germany's decision to abstain, saying the governments had "caved in to the industry lobby". A spokeswoman for Defra, the UK's environment department, said 14 out of the 27 EU nations - including the UK and Germany - had not supported the commission's proposals as they currently stood.
"Bee health is extremely important but decisions must be based on sound scientific evidence and rushing this through could have serious unintended consequences both for bees and for food production," she added.
"We are currently finalising studies that will give us the evidence on which to base a proper decision. But as we do not have the evidence yet, it is impossible for us to vote either way."
Global web-based campaign group Avaaz condemned the UK's and Germany's decision to abstain, saying the governments had "caved in to the industry lobby".
"Today's vote flies in the face of science and public opinion and maintains the disastrous chemical armageddon on bees, which are critical for the future of our food," said Avaaz senior campaigner Iain Keith."Today's vote flies in the face of science and public opinion and maintains the disastrous chemical armageddon on bees, which are critical for the future of our food," said Avaaz senior campaigner Iain Keith.
In a YouGov poll commissioned by the campaign network, 71% of almost 2,000 people questioned in the UK supported the commission's proposals to impose the moratorium on the insecticides.In a YouGov poll commissioned by the campaign network, 71% of almost 2,000 people questioned in the UK supported the commission's proposals to impose the moratorium on the insecticides.
Avaaz said that it, along with other groups, would be taking legal advice as to whether the outcome of the vote could in challenged in the courts. Avaaz said that it, along with other groups, would be taking legal advice as to whether the outcome of the vote could be challenged in the courts.
The chemicals in question - imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianindin - belong to a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids.The chemicals in question - imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianindin - belong to a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids.
The insecticides work by affecting the central nervous system of insects, causing paralysis and death.The insecticides work by affecting the central nervous system of insects, causing paralysis and death.
"There is certainly fairly convincing evidence that they pose a significant threat to bees," ecologist Prof David Goulson from the University of Stirling told the BBC's Farming Today programme. 'Data shortcomings'
"Essentially, the problem is because [the chemicals] travel to all parts of the plant, the chemicals get into the pollen and nectar, then pollinators, such as bumblebees, consume them," he explained.
"The amounts they consume is quite small because the concentrations in pollen and nectar are very low, but then they are very toxic chemicals."
A report published by EFSA scientists in January identified a number of risks posed by the three insecticides.A report published by EFSA scientists in January identified a number of risks posed by the three insecticides.
It assessed the possible threats to the pollinators from exposure to residues in pollen and nectar, dust and guttation fluid (some plants exude sap in the form of droplets).It assessed the possible threats to the pollinators from exposure to residues in pollen and nectar, dust and guttation fluid (some plants exude sap in the form of droplets).
However, it added that in some cases it was "unable to finalise the assessments due to shortcomings in the available data".However, it added that in some cases it was "unable to finalise the assessments due to shortcomings in the available data".
'Open mind' Bee expert Prof David Goulson from the University of Stirling said he was disappointed that the proposals had not been adopted.
A number of EU countries, including Italy, had imposed a ban on the use of the chemicals at a national level but others, including the UK, were against the commission's calls for a two-year EU-wide ban. "The panel of independent experts at EFSA spent six months studying all the evidence before concluding that current use of neonicotinoids posed an unacceptable risk to bees," he observed.
Speaking in the House of Lords on Wednesday, UK Environment Minister Lord de Mauley said the government was approaching the issue with an "open mind". However, Prof Lin Field, head of crop protection at Rothamsted Research, said she was pleased with the outcome of the vote.
"We are, indeed, doing further analysis on fieldwork we have had carried out specifically to address this issue because it is vital that what we do is proportionate and based on the science," he told peers. "In my view there is still is not enough clear evidence supporting a ban on neonicotinoids," she explained.
"As to whether there is an effect on the honey harvest, it is difficult to say because we do not have categoric evidence that there is an unacceptable level of harm to bees." "Of course they can kill bees; they are insecticides. But whether they actually do this or whether sub-lethal effects occur and damage the colonies on any important scale has not been proven."
A number of EU countries, including Italy, have imposed a ban on the use of the chemicals at a national.
Arable farmer Mark Leggett echoed Prof Field's comments, adding: "We must be careful not to remove a product from the marketplace which is proving itself of massive worth in terms of controlling pests.
"We would be forced to go back and use old chemistry and less environmentally friendly alternatives… and if the aphids have resistance, we might not be able to control the aphids," he told the BBC's Farming Today programme.
In a statement, pesticide manufacturer Bayer CropScience said the failure to reach agreement showed that there was "no convincing argument against the continuing use of neonicotinoid-based products".
"Not only had the commission incorrectly based their rationale on recent EFSA reviews of these products, they had failed to make the appropriate impact assessments of any decisions they proposed on the broader interests of European stakeholders," it added.
Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton said that there was "more than enough evidence that these chemicals are linked to bee decline to place immediate restrictions on their use".Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton said that there was "more than enough evidence that these chemicals are linked to bee decline to place immediate restrictions on their use".
"This is a cop-out by a significant number of European governments, including the UK - it means yet more dither and delay while our bee populations plummet," he added."This is a cop-out by a significant number of European governments, including the UK - it means yet more dither and delay while our bee populations plummet," he added.
Following the vote, it was said that EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg would "consider the next step". Following the vote, EU officials said that EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg would "consider the next step".