Bee die-off. After the banning of 3 neonicotinoid pesticides for two years, the European Union bans the use of a fourth harmful substance for bees: the pesticide Fipronil. Its use will be banned for two years, starting in December 2013. The decision came today thanks to the vote of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in Brussels.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Bee die-off. After ban for two years of 3 neonicotinoid pesticides, comes from the European Union the ban on the use of a fourth substance harmful to bees: the insecticide fipronil. Its use will be banned for two years, starting since December 2013. The decision came today thanks to the vote of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in Brussels.
However, the temporary bans are not sufficient to stem the death of bees. Therefore Greenpeace calls for much more incisive measures, proposing one total ban and long-term bee killer pesticides. It is also necessary to have a real protection plan for all pollinating insects, including bees.
Fipronil is an insecticide that until October 2008 was used for the treatment of corn seeds. From that moment on, its use for tanning seeds was banned, precisely because of the negative effects about bees. EFSA was responsible for assessing the consequences for bees related to the use of Fipronil in agriculture and established the acute risk for domestic bees when it is used for the treatment of maize seeds.
La ban of Fipronil for two years unfortunately it is not total. According to what was communicated by Greenpeace, the proposal of the European Commission voted today provides for loopholes, for example with regard to crops that are harvested before flowering and its use in greenhouses.
Unfortunately, similar exceptions will still allow the circulation of the offending substance in the environment and on land. The risk to bees may be temporarily reduced, but will still be partly present. According to Federica Ferrario, head of Greenpeace's Sustainable Agriculture Campaign, the next step must be the ban on all other killer pesticides of bees, accompanied by economic investments in research and development of sustainable agricultural practices not dependent on pesticides.
We support the campaign Let's Save The Bees e let's sign the petition.
Marta Albè
Read also:
- Bee die-off: the EU calls for the suspension of neonicotinoid pesticides for two years
