Sugar Beet: Neonicotinoids

(asked on 1st February 2023) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued to farmers to ensure potential harms to pollinators from the use of thiamethoxam pesticides for treatment of sugar beet crops are minimised.


Answered by
Mark Spencer Portrait
Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This question was answered on 6th February 2023

Potential risks to pollinators were assessed as part of the process for considering the emergency authorisation for the thiamethoxam seed treatment Cruiser SB. Strict conditions were attached to the emergency authorisation which are designed to ensure that treated seed is used in a way that reduces these risks. These conditions include a maximum rate of application of Cruiser SB to the seed, maximum planting density of treated seed and only planting crops from a specific list, which excludes all crops that flower before harvest, within 32 months after planting the treated seed.

We have increased these conditions. The conditions are legal requirements for those using treated seed. A stewardship scheme is in place which includes measures to inform growers, led by the British Beet Research Organisation. Officials from my Department and from the Health and Safety Executive will monitor the delivery of this information campaign.

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