- New guidance to protect our vital pollinators from harmful
pesticides
- The government delivers on commitment to review rules on
emergency use of pesticides
- This comes ahead of the launch of the new Environmental
Improvement Plan, which will set out further detail of the
government's ambition to restore our natural environment,
including protecting pollinators
The government has taken another step towards stopping the use of
bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides.
Today, the Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance
for emergency authorisations of pesticides. These changes clarify
and strengthen the existing guidance to ensure that anyone
applying for an emergency authorisation to use a pesticide must
take full account of the risks it poses to pollinators in their
application. This is the next step in delivering the government's
commitment to end the use of banned neonicotinoids in England.
This move will ensure the essential role that pollinators play
for British farming, and the health of our ecosystems is now
properly recognised. Pollination is vital to our food systems and
offers benefits to crop production in the UK estimated to be
worth £500 million annually.
Environment Minister said:
Nature is the bedrock of our economy, and it is vital that we
take action to protect it for the future. We are committed to
restoring our natural environment while supporting productivity
and economic growth.
That is why we are taking another step towards a complete ban on
the use of bee killing pesticides in England and we will continue
to support farmers and growers to adopt sustainable practices.
Three neonicotinoid pesticides are not authorised as they are
known to be harmful to pollinators. These pesticides can
contaminate pollen and nectar, harming bees' ability to forage,
navigate, and reproduce. The government has committed to
completely preventing their use, including through emergency
authorisations, and to exploring legislative options to
do so.
An emergency authorisation application for the use of
neonicotinoid pesticide Cruiser SB was denied earlier this year,
after four consecutive years of derogations between 2021 and
2024.
Alongside these steps, the government has detailed how it will
support farmers to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides in the
UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025. This includes measures
to increase the use of Integrated Pest Management techniques.
The government will publish its new Environmental Improvement
Plan in due course, setting out its ambitions to halt the decline
of nature. This will build on existing work to protect and
restore nature, clean up our rivers and seas, boost tree planting
and reduce waste.
This government has already licensed the first wild beaver
release since they were hunted to extinction around 400 years
ago, announced the creation of a new national forest stretching
from the Cotswolds to the Mendips, started cleaning up our
rivers, lakes and seas by introducing tough new powers through a
new Act of Parliament, initiated waste reforms which will see £10
billion invested in new recycling facilities, and will invest up
to £400 million in tree planting and peatland restoration over
the next two years.
Notes to editors:
- The government's commitment to end the use of banned
neonicotinoids in England was outlined in December's Neonicotinoids Policy
Statement.
- The changes to the emergency authorisation guidance have been
made in co-operation with all 4 governments of the UK. The new
guidance will apply across the UK and to all emergency
authorisations for pesticides, not just neonicotinoids.
- The three neonicotinoid pesticides that are not authorised
due to their harmful effects on pollinators are clothianidin,
imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.
