Government under fire for failure to ban bee-killing pesticides

BY ROB EDWARDS

THE Scottish Government has come under attack for failing to ban pesticides after a major scientific study concluded that they were harming bees.

Scientists from the publicly-funded Centre for Ecology and Hydrology found strong evidence linking the use of nicotine-based pesticides with “large-scale and long-term” declines in wild bees.

But when asked for the Government’s response to the study last week, the Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said it was awaiting further research before considering whether to take action.

In line with the European Union, there are some restrictions on the use of three of the pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, in Scotland. But potatoes, wheat, barley and oats grown over large areas are still treated with the chemicals, which are designed to paralyse insects by attacking their nervous systems.

According to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the new study was further confirmation that some neonicotinoid pesticides were causing real harm to wild bees. “If the precautionary principle were being properly applied we would fully halt their use in Scottish agriculture, unless it was proven that there is no danger to wildlife,” said the trust’s head of policy, Dr Maggie Keegan.

“The Scottish Government has repeatedly stated that there is not enough evidence to impose a full ban, but as study after study demonstrating the impact of neonicotinoids is published we have to question exactly how much evidence will be enough.”

Matt Shardlow, chief executive of the insect conservation group, Buglife, argued that neonicotinoids were now well