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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received from the UK grower community on repeal of the ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Decisions on the approval of pesticide active substances are made at EU level. In late 2013, the EU imposed restrictions on three neonicotinoids that are “attractive to bees”. The UK has implemented these rules in full. The European Commission has begun a review of the science relating to the restrictions. The government believes that decisions should be made on the basis of the scientific evidence and will fully participate in this review.

Growers’ representatives have made it clear that they regard the restrictions as problematic for the production of affected crops. They are not convinced that the evidence suggests that bees are harmed from use of these pesticides.