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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to ban temporary approvals for the use of bee-toxic neonicotinoids.

There is an established process for emergency authorisations, based upon the requirements in the legislation. Each application received is considered on its own merits.

The Government is fully persuaded that the widespread use of neonicotinoids should not be permitted. The emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB on the 2023 sugar beet crop allows a single use of a neonicotinoid on a single crop under very strict conditions to mitigate risks to pollinators. Use of the product will only go ahead if there is forecast to be a virus incidence of 63% or above, as predicted by an established model. If this threshold is not met, use of the product is not permitted. This threshold has materially increased.

In 2020 (a year in which no neonicotinoid seed treatments were used) 25% of the national sugar beet crop was lost.

We have been clear that British Sugar and industry must move forward with plans for the development of alternative, sustainable approaches to protect crops from Yellows Virus, without the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments. This could include the development of resistant plant varieties, measures to improve seed germination and new practices for growers. The government is keen to see these plans progress at pace.