EU Bans 3 Neonicotinoid Pesticides For 2 Years To Test Bee Recovery - Uses Precautionary Principle

[hatrack]

Using the precautionary principle, Europe's regulators have taken aggressive action to protect bee health. The proposals come on the heels of a scientific report published by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) which found that the scientific evidence available does not establish a sufficient margin of safety for bees, a critical link in the areas of both food production and environmental health.

Bayer's imidacloprid and clothianidin, and Syngenta's thiamethoxam will be banned, subject to re-evaluation after two years, if EU Member States approve a measure put forward this week by the European Commission.

Bayer reacted to the EFSA report by warning against "over-interpretation of the precautionary principle," according to reports in the Guardian. But the rapid and unexplained decline in bee populations has forced regulators' hand.

Recent studies have shown that in the nests of bees exposed to the neonicotinoid pesticides, 85% fewer queens are produced. Additionally, double the number of bees disappeared from the nest, apparently losing their way after foraging.

EDIT

http://www.treehugger.com/endangered-species/three-widely-used-pesticides-banned-unacceptable-danger-bees.html

[WCLinolVir]

1. Yeah!!!!! Go Europe. F*** Bayer.

This company has so many skeletons in its closet it's not even funny.

[dipsydoodle]

2. They may not be the sole culprit

but anything helps which will reduce the problem.

[roody]

3. How sensible.