UK government considers new restrictions on neonicotinoids

While farmers across Europe might have viewed the EU’S recent decision to re-licence the widely used herbicide glyphosate – albeit for a five-year period rather than the 15 initially sought – as a victory for science over politics, the verdict likely to be announced today on neonicotinoids might not be as welcome.

With EU countries poised to vote on a proposal to introduce tougher restrictions on three neonicotinoids, a change in the UK’S position could result in tighter controls being introduced.

Four years ago the EU restricted its use in the spring and on flowering crops, which growers in the south of the UK claimed limited their ability to grow oilseed rape.

But with France already set to go ahead with a ban in 2018, UK environment secretary Michael Gove’s surprise U-turn earlier in the year has seen the UK government change its stance in favour of a ban due to the supposed harm to pollinators.

Gove said new research had raised “profound concerns” and that he was contemplating the need for further restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids.

However, the National Farmers’ Union said that banning of seed treatments could lead to more spraying, a move it claimed would be worse for the environment,whileastudy published by EU farming co-operative Copa-cogeca showed that there had been a 10 per cent drop in the oilseeds area since the initial restrictions had been introduced.