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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 8 July 2014, to Question 203903, what recent steps she has taken to implement the ban on neonicotinoids.

Neonicotinoids are a group of chemicals used as active substances in pesticides. Decisions on the approval of pesticide active substances are made at EU level. Five neonicotinoids are currently approved but, since December 2013, three are not permitted for use on a wide range of crops considered “attractive to bees”. A number of other uses remain permitted under the EU approval. The UK has implemented the restrictions in full. These restrictions remain in place until and unless the European Commission decides to change them.

EU legislation also sets out the rules under which Member States consider applications for the authorisation of products. This includes rules for authorisation in emergency situations in crop protection. The Government has received applications for emergency authorisation of neonicotinoid seed treatments for use on oilseed rape and these applications are currently being assessed.