06/12/2015
Bees and pollinators play a crucial role in nature and in our food supply. Government therefore takes their protection very seriously and has worked over the last few years to better understand them, always listening to the evidence.
Rightly, pesticides are tightly regulated. Decisions about them are made at European level and since December 2014 three of the five currently approved neonicotinoids are not permitted for use on a wide range of crops considered attractive to bees.
A review of the science relating to neonicotinoids and bees by the European Food Safety Authority is expected to conclude this summer. UK Government is determined that any decisions must be based on solid evidence and so will be fully contributing to this review.
Please be assured that rules on neonicotinoids will stay firmly in place so long as the evidence points that this is best for bees.
