Reglone under the microscope
EU postpones neonic ban until 2018
During a meeting of Scopaff, the EU Committee on Plants, Animals, Feed and Food, no decision was taken on extending the ban on neonicotinoids. This new ban is to replace the current temporary ban.
There is currently a ban on 3 neonicotinoids, called neonics for short, in the EU. These are thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid, which may not be used in flowering crops such as rapeseed and sunflowers. The temporary ban will remain in place for the time being. The European Union (EU) took the decision in 2013 to end bee deaths.
30-40
procent
Total ban
One of the options is a total ban on neonics, including sugar beet. However, according to the British farmers' advocate NFU, this costs 30% to 40% in yield. Moreover, arable farmers are then obliged to use other agents such as pyrethroids for crop protection, which means that resistance is lurking.
Food watchdog EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, will carry out a new risk analysis to map the effect of insecticides on bees and other pollinators. This is a follow-up to the study dating from February 2008. In addition, the AGRI committee in the European Parliament is also working on a report on the decline in the bee population and other pollinators.
Reglone under the microscope
In addition to the neonics ban, Scopaff also met on the definition of what the endocrine disruptor is in pesticides. Member States have been discussing this for 8 years. Diquat dibromide was also discussed during the meeting. This is the active ingredient in Reglone.
According to Mairead McGuinness, Vice President of the European Parliament, crop protection products are being watched. "Plant protection products play an important role in keeping crops healthy and preventing losses. However, when EU authorities judge that the risks to humans and the environment are too great, they must and will be removed from the market."
Niels van der Boom
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