Banned pesticides pose a greater risk to bees than thought, EU experts warn

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“Three pesticides banned in Europe for their potential to damage bee populations could pose an even greater threat than was thought, according to a new assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa).

“Already proscribed for seed treatments and soil applications, the Efsa analysis says that clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam also pose a ‘high risk’ to bees when sprayed on leaves.

“The UK is currently facing a legal challenge to an emergency exemption it granted, allowing use of two of the substances, after protests by the National Farmers Union.

“But far from supporting the British case, the advisory expert assessment will add to pressure for an extension of the ban to apply to fruit orchards after blooming, and crops gown in greenhouses, Greenpeace says.

“The commission should expand the EU-wide ban to cover all uses of neonicotinoids on all crops, and end the self-service approach to derogations. Viable non-chemical alternatives exist and the EU should encourage farmers to use them,” said the group’s agriculture policy director, Marco Contiero.”  Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.theguardian.com

GR:  The rest of the world needs to pay attention here and see the need to escape from the chemistry industry’s death grip.

3 thoughts on “Banned pesticides pose a greater risk to bees than thought, EU experts warn”

  1. Hi Garry – this is Lisa in Ecuador. I am here at this post for a specific reason — please bear with me as I explain, and I hope that you can help with some current data .
    11 months ago a neighbor’s pasture was sprayed with what I think was 2,4-D. It smelled like 2,4-D and for about four months, sensitive plants like young balsa trees continued to curl with each new leaf. Because I often walk that route and inventory the neighborhood birds, I have noted an absence of seedeaters, grassquits and Ecuadorian Ground Doves. Last week there were only 4 doves in two different areas, and about six Blue-black Grassquits, zero Variable Seedeaters – and what is most alarming is that the pasture grasses are at their peak – perfect specimens, as no birds are landing, foraging, weighing them down… Aside from two male seedaters leaping skyward and singing on a nearby branch, the entire area was spookily silent. (perdon that word but it fits.)

    I have been gone for about two weeks, and the owner of the property were I live told me that one of his bee hive colonies has died totally.. and the second one is sick. He blames the application of a pesticide a month ago, as we all smelled the drift on this ‘no pesticides used’ coffee farm. He said that the papaya trees also died — I noted but thought that the heavy rains contributed to the papayas’ death from rain-saturated soils.

    A month ago I photographed the discarded packet from the sprayed pasture. Malban, imported from China.

    I reported the above to a friend in Quito who immediately contacted 40-plus authorities in the municipality and dpt of ambiente in this province. Before we meet – hopefully next week, it would be good to have up to date facts about pesticides and bees, and if we lose the bees…. i fear they are the true canary in the coal mine, and that i am witnessing Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring predictions.
    Perhaps you have links to point me to current data –. or you can write me tzeebra@yahoo.com

    On a positive note, last week I spoke with a ‘Reptile Specialist” (what I told my friends here) about a snake I photographed about six months ago.. my neighbors thought it was dangerous and wanted to kill it – said it eats chickens. My friend said, “Actually, that is a very special snake – one of two that eats equis (fer de lance)…”

    Bingo.. That’s what the locals need to hear, and now the Museo of the province is working to hopefully bring Eric here as well as someone in the birding industry to give a multi-city/village tour.. sharing trivia and hopefully helping them realize how fragile the planet is at this time…

    Thank you, and please forgive me for this long comment, perhaps best kept in moderation?

    I will be off line until Friday or Saturday, whenever I come out for internet.

    Lisa

    Liked by 1 person

    • Lisa, here’s a link to the Latin American division of the Pesticide Action Network (PAN). (https://rap-al.org). Contact PAN and ask for support. I found some basic testing data for MALBAN (metsulfuron-methyl), but I’m not qualified to draw conclusions from it. I have a good impression of PAN. They might be the best source of information and support.
      We may be in the midst of a cascading extinction of insects, birds, and other animals. The bees and butterflies have almost disappeared at my place even though we do not use pesticides and haven’t for more than 10 years. There is a farm a mile from here that might be using pesticides, but I am not clear on their practices.
      I apologize for offering no helpful information. I hope PAN can help.
      Garry

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