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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of evidence that bees are harmed by the use of neonicotinoids, what plans they have to restrict the use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds.

Decisions on the approval of pesticide active substances are made at European level. Since December 2013, three of the five neonicotinoids currently approved 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 restrictions currently in place for neonicotinoids are not time-limited.