Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential environmental effect of Cruiser SB neonicotinoid dressed seed on sugar beet in the UK in spring 2021; what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) bees, (b) birds and mammals and (c) aquatic organisms of that neonicotinoid; and whether he asked for the advice of the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides on the use of that neonicotinoid.

Article 53 of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 allows countries, under certain circumstances, to consider authorising the use of a plant protection product for a period not exceeding 120 days, for a limited and controlled use where such a measure is necessary because of a danger which cannot be contained by any other means.

An application has recently been made under this legislation for an emergency authorisation for Cruiser SB as a seed treatment for use on sugar beet. As is normal for emergency authorisation applications, a full assessment, including an assessment of environmental risks, has been carried out by the Health and Safety Executive and advice has been sought from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides. A decision will be taken by Ministers shortly.