Jon Hawkins, Surrey Hills Photography
No to neonics
Insect populations are dramatically falling. But the approval of the further use of toxic chemicals could further accelerate the decline.
There is no place for neonicotinoids
In January 2021, the Government announced emergency authorisation of the highly damaging neonicotinoid, thiamethoxam for use on sugar beet. A similar application was refused in 2018 by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides because of unacceptable environmental risks.
Shockingly, the Government has announced it has authorised the use of neonics for a second year in a row. And on 1st March the Government decided the threshold had been met to allow this use - and this announcement means that thiamethoxam can now be applied to sugar beet crops in England.
This decision ignores the 100,000+ people who appealed to the Prime Minister to reverse the same 'emergency' authorisation made last year, and it disregards the advice of the UK's top health and safety executives and pesticide experts as well as undermines the Government's legally-binding commitment to halt species decline in 2030.
Thanks to the support of Wildlife Trust members around the UK, Wednesday 2nd February saw a debate in Westminster Hall on the Government's approved use of thiamethoxam.
21 MPs from across England attended the debate and made their feelings clear - the Government's emergency authorisation is not based on science. Labour MP Luke Pollard, who organised the debate, called out the Government for ignoring its own health and safety experts by allowing the use of neonics.
Conservative MP, Matthew Offord, highlighted that neonics will not only kill bees but other pollinators such as moths and butterflies, reducing biodiversity and harming our ability to tackle climate change.
Many MPs reminded the Government that just three months ago it passed the Environment Act, which set a legally-binding target of reversing the decline in nature by 2030. As Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said, this target means nothing if the Government is still willing to authorise use of toxic pesticides on our fields.
