Pesticide given a reprieve to combat threat of aphid virus

FARMERS can again use a previously banned pesticide that harms bees – despite a government goal to halt species loss.

Sugar beet farmers will be allowed to use thiamethoxam, a type of neonicotinoid known to harm bees’ reproductive systems and navigation abilities, after an application by British Sugar.

The “emergency” permission will enable farmers to target aphids that spread beet yellows virus. Farmers were also granted permission last year but the cold winter killed off an unusually high number of aphids so it was not needed.

Farmers will be forbidden from growing flowering plants for 32 months after any use, in an effort to protect bees, but – announcing the decision – George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said that even with the restriction it was “not possible to rule out completely a degree of risk to bees”.

Sandra Bell, of Friends of the Earth, said: “Allowing a bee-harming pesticide into our fields is totally at odds with ministers’ so-called green ambitions, not to mention directly against the recommendation of their own scientists.

“This decision comes just two months after the government enshrined in law a target to halt species loss by 2030.”

Matt Shardlow, chief executive of insect charity Buglife, said: “Neonicotinoids approved under the current pesticide approval process devastated populations of wild bees and heavily polluted rivers. “It is shameful that no action has been taken to ensure that bee- and wildlife-destroying pesticides are properly assessed as being pollinator

‘Allowing bee-harming pesticides into our fields is totally at odds with so-called green ambitions’

safe before they are approved or derogated for use. The Government had the chance to do that in the Environment Bill, and failed to do so.”

A Defra spokesman said: “This decision has not been taken lightly and is based on robust scientific assessment. We evaluate the risks very carefully and only grant temporary emergency authorisations for restricted pesticides in special circumstances when strict requirements are met. Last year the threshold was not met so the authorisation was never exercised.”