News neonicotinoids
Ban on neonicotinoids in agriculture remains in effect
The European Supreme Court has ruled that the partial ban on neonicotinoids by the European Commission is justified. The court made this ruling today (Thurs. 6 May) in a case brought by chemical group Bayer against the ban.
Neonicotinoids are under fire for being linked to declining numbers of wild bees. The European Commission has therefore decided to ban the substances imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam in crops that are attractive to bees.
No new evidence
As a producer, Bayer started a case against the ban in 2018 because there was not enough new scientific evidence. According to Bayer, the ban has far-reaching consequences for the certainty and predictability for the approval of active substances already authorized in the EU. The company also warned that the use of other less efficient crop protection products is increasing due to the elimination of neonicotinoids.
With the ruling, the court confirms that new findings from the European Food Safety (EFSA) may be used, despite the fact that they have not been ratified by all member states and that all scientific information may be included in the reassessment of an authorisation.
Carte blanche to review admission
A Bayer spokesperson said he was disappointed with the ruling. "With this verdict, the European Commission has in effect a carte blanche to review the authorization of plant protection products on the basis of flimsy evidence, which does not even have to be new scientific data."
Despite the ban on neonicotinoids in agriculture, according to the EU, 206 emergency exemptions have been granted for the use of the substances between 2013 and 2019. The substances are also available outside of agriculture, for example as an anti-flea product for pets.
Jurphaas Lugtenburg
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