Alternatives are not better
LTO and Nefyto: 'Deferral of neonics ban required'
LTO Nederland and Nefyto (representative of GBM companies) do not accept the words of agriculture minister Carola Schouten. According to the organizations, more time is required to find alternatives to the 3 neonicotinoids.
Schouten already left on Tuesday 24 April know agree to the proposal of the European Commission (EC). If it is up to Schouten, 3 neonicotinoids: imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin will be banned. The reason for this is the danger to bees, among others, supported by a study by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
More time
Both LTO Nederland and Nefyto respond to this news with the statement that more time is required to look for alternatives. The alternatives that are now available have an adverse effect on the environment. Instead of a concentrated seed coating, full-field spraying is again necessary.
"LTO Nederland argues in favor of postponing the vote on Friday 27 April. If this does not work, we propose that Schouten abstain from voting," says Joris Baecke, portfolio holder for Healthy Plants at LTO Nederland. "Schouten's intention is not in line with a previously issued advice from the Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb). According to the organization, EFSA has only taken limited account of the possibility of the availability of alternatives."
Restrictions possible
Nefyto adds in their reporting that the restrictions that the EC wants to impose go further than necessary to guarantee the safety of bees. According to the Ctgb, measures are possible to establish safe use for a number of applications. Nefyto therefore wants the minister to plead with the EC for these restrictions.
Research by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) shows that a large number of crops are affected by the ban; grass seed, seed potatoes, sugar beets and various vegetable crops. LTO Akkerbouw even talks about the possible end of beet cultivation, although this is not mentioned in the statement of LTO Nederland. "There are no alternatives available in the short term," says Baecke. "We need time. Full-field spraying is going to dominate the image again. That could have been done differently."
According to portfolio holder Baecke, alternatives are being sought, but more attention should be paid to research and its application. Facilitating growers, creating space for experimentation, demonstrations, monitoring and advice are points that LTO Nederland would like to see expanded.
Proposal unsound
Nefyto adds that the EC's proposal is flawed because it is based on an unapproved assessment framework. The concept has not been approved by the European member states, because it is practically impracticable. The minister acknowledges this problem, but does not allow it to change her view.
Schouten's German colleague, Julia Klöckner, also announced that she would vote for a total ban in the European Union. English Secretary for Agriculture Michael Gove acknowledges the increased risk to bees, but has not yet made a firm decision. European Commissioner Phil Hogan announced in March that a derogation should be created for sugar beet cultivation when a complete neonics ban comes into effect.
In December 2013, the 3 substances were already banned in the EU for use on flowering crops (such as rapeseed), spring cereals and maize. Scopaff (the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed) is expected to vote for a total ban on Friday after the meeting.
Niels van der Boom
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