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| Ban lifted on controversial 'neonic' pesticide | Ban lifted on controversial 'neonic' pesticide |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government has temporarily lifted a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides in certain parts of the country. | The government has temporarily lifted a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides in certain parts of the country. |
| This comes after a second emergency application by the National Farmers Union. | This comes after a second emergency application by the National Farmers Union. |
| The EU-wide moratorium was put in place after some scientific studies showed that the pesticide caused significant harm to bees. | The EU-wide moratorium was put in place after some scientific studies showed that the pesticide caused significant harm to bees. |
| Two neonicotinoid pesticides can now be used for 120 days on about 5% of England's oilseed rape crop. | |
| Environmental and wildlife groups have called the decision "scandalous". | Environmental and wildlife groups have called the decision "scandalous". |
| The areas where farmers will be allowed to use neonicotinoids has not yet been decided. According to the NFU, it will be those areas where there are records over the last season or so that the pests - primarily the cabbage stem flea beetle - have inflicted most damage on oilseed rape crops. | |
| It will cover an area of around 30,000 hectares. | It will cover an area of around 30,000 hectares. |
| This is the second time that the NFU has applied to the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD). The first application was rejected on the basis that it was not limited enough. | This is the second time that the NFU has applied to the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD). The first application was rejected on the basis that it was not limited enough. |
| 'Too late' | 'Too late' |
| The NFU has welcomed the decision, but argues that it will come too late for many farmers. | The NFU has welcomed the decision, but argues that it will come too late for many farmers. |
| Dr Chris Hartfield from the NFU said: "It is very nip and tuck. There is a lead time involved for the farmer. They will have to get hold of the seed, have to treat it, and have to apply it. For some it will come too late. For others, they fall outside the area, which is mainly in the east of England." | Dr Chris Hartfield from the NFU said: "It is very nip and tuck. There is a lead time involved for the farmer. They will have to get hold of the seed, have to treat it, and have to apply it. For some it will come too late. For others, they fall outside the area, which is mainly in the east of England." |
| Two products from Bayer and Syngenta will be allowed to help protect crops from the flea beetle. | Two products from Bayer and Syngenta will be allowed to help protect crops from the flea beetle. |
| Bees and other pollinators are vital for the majority crops but are in decline due to habitat loss, the use of pesticides, and disease. | Bees and other pollinators are vital for the majority crops but are in decline due to habitat loss, the use of pesticides, and disease. |
| Friends of the Earth campaigner Paul de Zylva said: "It's scandalous that the government has caved in to NFU pressure and given permission for some farmers to use banned pesticides that have been shown to harm our precious bees. | |
| "Ever more scientific evidence shows just how dangerous these chemicals are to bees and other pollinators - they should have no place in our fields and gardens." | "Ever more scientific evidence shows just how dangerous these chemicals are to bees and other pollinators - they should have no place in our fields and gardens." |
| The group argues that the decision-making process has not been transparent. | The group argues that the decision-making process has not been transparent. |
| "It is completely unacceptable for the Government to refuse to make the NFU's decision publicly available - and even asked its own independent advisors not to publish the minutes and agenda of key meetings." | "It is completely unacceptable for the Government to refuse to make the NFU's decision publicly available - and even asked its own independent advisors not to publish the minutes and agenda of key meetings." |
| 'Evidence-based legislation' | 'Evidence-based legislation' |
| Dr Hartfield from the NFU countered the suggestion that neonicotinoids have been shown to harm bees: | Dr Hartfield from the NFU countered the suggestion that neonicotinoids have been shown to harm bees: |
| "The majority of the research that has fuelled this debate has been based on artificial dosing studies. The big question in this area is does this accurately reflect what happens to bees foraging in and around neonicotinoid crops. We don't know, but the field studies haven't shown that they are causing population declines in pollinators." | "The majority of the research that has fuelled this debate has been based on artificial dosing studies. The big question in this area is does this accurately reflect what happens to bees foraging in and around neonicotinoid crops. We don't know, but the field studies haven't shown that they are causing population declines in pollinators." |
| A Defra spokesperson said: "We have fully applied the precautionary ban on the use of neonicotinoids introduced by the EU, and we make decisions on pesticides based on the science only once the regulators are satisfied they are safe to people and the environment. | A Defra spokesperson said: "We have fully applied the precautionary ban on the use of neonicotinoids introduced by the EU, and we make decisions on pesticides based on the science only once the regulators are satisfied they are safe to people and the environment. |
| "Based on the evidence, we have followed the advice of the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides and our Chief Scientist that a limited emergency authorisation of two pesticides requested by farmers should be granted in areas where oil rape crops are at greatest risk of pest damage." | "Based on the evidence, we have followed the advice of the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides and our Chief Scientist that a limited emergency authorisation of two pesticides requested by farmers should be granted in areas where oil rape crops are at greatest risk of pest damage." |
| According to Maddy Carroll, campaign manager for 38 degrees, half a million people had signed a petition to uphold the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. | According to Maddy Carroll, campaign manager for 38 degrees, half a million people had signed a petition to uphold the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. |
| "Call me cynical but the timing of this decision to go back on this ban a day in to parliamentary recess, when there can be no scrutiny, just seems outrageous to me," she said. | "Call me cynical but the timing of this decision to go back on this ban a day in to parliamentary recess, when there can be no scrutiny, just seems outrageous to me," she said. |
| "There is huge scientific evidence that these pesticides decimate bee populations - hence the EU wide ban. Sadly Defra have chosen short-term profits over our environment. | "There is huge scientific evidence that these pesticides decimate bee populations - hence the EU wide ban. Sadly Defra have chosen short-term profits over our environment. |
| We recognise that this ban would pose challenges to some farmers, but this is way bigger than that. The whole agricultural economy is based on natural pollinators like bees. Without them we would have no british apples, no strawberries, no nothing." | We recognise that this ban would pose challenges to some farmers, but this is way bigger than that. The whole agricultural economy is based on natural pollinators like bees. Without them we would have no british apples, no strawberries, no nothing." |
| Keith Taylor, Green MEP for South East England, said: "The government has chosen to accept the partisan and self serving advice from the NFU while ignoring important evidence-based legislation set at EU level to protect our bees. | Keith Taylor, Green MEP for South East England, said: "The government has chosen to accept the partisan and self serving advice from the NFU while ignoring important evidence-based legislation set at EU level to protect our bees. |
| "In allowing neonicotinoids, the Government takes a reckless risk which endangers the British bee." | "In allowing neonicotinoids, the Government takes a reckless risk which endangers the British bee." |
| The two-year ban comes to an end in December. | The two-year ban comes to an end in December. |
| Follow Claire on Twitter. | Follow Claire on Twitter. |