'Neonicotinoids cannot simply be replaced'

Crop protection company Bayer has accepted the ban on neonicotinoids, but that does not mean that the fuss about the products is over. Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, also discussed the issue.

Although Bayer has accepted the ban on the drugs, the company is appealing the ban. The company is not doing this to re-authorize neonicotinoids, but because the ruling may have consequences for the authorization of other plant protection products.

In addition, a number of other plant protection companies say that the ban on neonicotinoids does not provide any environmental benefits. This is because the alternatives do not necessarily have a lower environmental impact. Schouten gives in a letter to Parliament indicates that the Netherlands has also emphasized this to the European Commission (EC).

These companies say that the importance of 1 active substance must be weighed up against the alternatives. The minister indicates that in the current legislation it is not yet possible to include this in the decision-making process. Incidentally, Schouten also indicates that she is not in favor of just replacing neonics. She prefers to focus on non-chemical or low-risk products.

The 'Bee Guidance'
Another problem for those companies is that the neonicotinoids are banned on the basis of an undefined test criterion: the Bee Guidance† In response, Schouten indicates that this 'Bee Guidance' was only used additionally in the assessment. "However, the Bee Guidance will be established in the short term."

Schouten also indicates that she probably does not derogation for the use of neonicotinoids in the Netherlands. At European level there is not even room for a derogation, that can only be done at national level (in the event of an emergency).

Uneven playing field
"If 1 Member State grants a national exemption for an unauthorized plant protection product, this can lead to an uneven playing field," the minister said. It is therefore important that the Member States handle the exemptions instrument with care. Schouten will monitor this situation.

Finally, in the letter to parliament, Schouten discusses the use of glyphosate. She does not plan to phase out the use of glyphosate, but she will talk to the German agriculture minister to look at alternatives. She is also in talks with LTO Nederland about reducing the use of glyphosate.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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