Yesterday, the Dutch Parliament called for a complete suspension on the use of Neonicotinoids. This follows a recent report by the European Food Safety Authority highlighting the insecticides as ‘high risk’ to honeybees and unknown risk to wild pollinators.
Matt Shardlow, Buglife CEO, said “Buglife welcomes this decision and urges the UK government to suspend Neonicotinoids and apply pressure on the European Union to follow suit. Action needs to be taken now to suspend Neonicotinoids in order to protect our wild bees, hoverflies, moths and other pollinators. The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has already committed to make a decision on the UK future of Neonicotinoids in January and Buglife is eagerly awaiting that decision.”
Wildlife charity, Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust has been campaigning to ban the use of Neonicotinoids since 2009. Numerous scientific studies have shown the harmful effects these insecticides have on pollinating insects such as bumblebees, flies and butterflies yet Defra has not taken preventative action.
