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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications of neonicotinoid pesticides have been agreed for actual use in 2022 in the UK.

In 2021, the Health and Safety Executive received an application from the National Farmers Union and British Sugar seeking emergency authorisation for the use of a neonicotinoid product as a seed treatment on sugar beet. The product is ‘Cruiser SB’ which provides protection against a range of pests and the viruses which they transmit.

We have issued, with strict conditions an emergency authorisation to use a product containing a neonicotinoid to treat sugar beet seed in England on the 2022 crop. Further information on the authorisation decision can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neonicotinoid-product-as-seed-treatment-for-sugar-beet-emergency-authorisation-application

There are authorised pesticides containing acetamiprid, which is not covered by the restrictions applying to other neonicotinoids as it is not found to carry an unacceptable environmental risk.