[Pollinator] neonicotinoid ban in EU

[David Inouye]

    EUROPEAN UNION


  Member states agree to neonicotinoids ban

Published: Friday, April 27, 2018

E.U. member states voted in support of a nearly complete ban on the use 
of insecticides that have been linked to the decline of pollinators.

The vote was postponed multiple times, as countries were not in 
agreement on the decision. Today's vote would take current regulations 
on neonicotinoid insecticides much further.

The European Union voted for a partial ban on some of the chemicals in 
2013. Those restrictions only applied to certain crops.

The new regulation bans almost all outdoor uses of the chemical.

"The Commission had proposed these measures months ago, on the basis of 
the scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority," said the 
European Union's health and food safety commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis.

"Bee health remains of paramount importance for me since it concerns 
biodiversity, food production and the environment," he said.

Farm groups and manufacturers have opposed the move, questioning the 
science behind the regulations.

The new rule will be adopted in the next few weeks and will be 
applicable by the end of 2018 (Matt McGrath, BBC News 
<http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43910536>, April 27). *— CS*

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