What's next?
Neonics victim of malicious rules
The 3 recently banned neonicotinoids: imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam have become the first victims of the 'Bee Guidance', a controversial assessment criteria that chemical companies and European member states have been discussing with the European Commission (EC) for almost 5 years.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published in 2013 the 'Bee Guidance Document† This 'guideline' uses scientific research methods to test the danger of plant protection products for different bee species. Since its publication, the EU Member States have been arguing about the enforceability of this directive. The EFSA also admitted that a number of parts need to be overhauled.
Directive unworkable
In addition to the EU member states, the large chemical companies and their trade association ECPA also call the Bee Guidance unworkable. It ensures that more than 75% of all currently registered active substances fall under the 'Tier 1' category, whereby further research is mandatory. The result is a series of unworkable requirements. For example, tests have to be carried out in an area of 448 square kilometers; larger than the island of Malta. There is not enough space in Europe for all tests. It ensured that chemical producers Bayer, BASF and Syngenta already in 2014 a lawsuit started against the EC. The verdict will be announced on 17 May.
The reason for the lawsuit was the ban on 3 controversial neonicotinoids in flowering crops, including canola. The same unapproved testing framework has now been used to ban the 3 substances for all outdoor agricultural applications. "It's about complex matter and discussions that are held at a scientific level," says Hinse Boonstra, spokesperson at Bayer Crop Science. "Such a discussion is normal. However, it is not the case that decisions are taken on the basis of an unapproved assessment framework. That is why we have submitted legal questions to the European Court of Justice."
Protective Goals
"The Bee Guidance has so-called protective objectives. One of these is that, through scientific studies, it must be demonstrated that a substance should not affect more than 7% of honeybees. However, practice shows that there is a natural fluctuation of at least 10% Such a requirement is therefore not feasible, but is used as assessment criteria," says Boonstra.
"Not only neonicotinoids must comply with the guidelines, but it is also unworkable for other crop protection products." The ECPA assessed that the re-registration of 27 active substances does not pass the assessment framework, because data is missing. This concerns 19 herbicides, 1 growth regulator and 7 fungicides. These agents have no effect on the health of bees and a ban does not contribute to bee populations."It concerns not only chemical agents, but also biological agents," notes Boonstra.
New rules
European stakeholders, manufacturers, ECPA and the Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) argue for workable rules, under the supervision of a committee of experts. Honey bees are leading in this research for all bee species. A new assessment framework is based on the currently available scientific studies. This is in line with the requirements that EFSA drew up in 2013. The studies also need to be carried out in a more workable manner.
The Bee Guidance is only a guideline for plant protection products. The flea collars for animals, in which the 3 neonicotinoids are also used, are biocides. A different assessment criteria applies for this.
No alternatives
Farmers who thinking Boonstra believes that things are not going so well, according to Boonstra. "Alternatives are available for some applications, but often not with an equivalent effect. This applies in particular to the coating of seeds, bulbs and tubers. The industry is constantly looking for this, but nothing is ready. Simply because it is incredibly difficult is to come up with a new drug. The requirements for authorization are high and the procedure is long. We are talking about years of delay in the current European authorizations. Accelerated authorization for alternatives is not a realistic prospect."
NGOs, researchers and nature lovers reacted positively to the ban, which came into effect on April 27 announced† Yet they also have enough to brands† For example, more neonicotinoids must be banned and the EC must extend the ban to glasshouse horticulture, where it has remained permitted until now. There is also talk of a ban outside of agriculture.
In the future
Since most sugar beets are now in the ground, the ban on seed coating with insecticide will not affect the 2018 harvest. How to deal with leftover beet seed, know Sugar Union not yet. Once the ban officially comes into effect, insecticide-coated seed may no longer be used from October 2018.
The last straw for the sector for the time being is the lawsuit, of which a verdict is expected on 17 May. If the European Court of Justice indeed decides that the Bee Guidance is unworkable, the imminent neonics ban could take a new turn.
Niels van der Boom
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.
