Support for farmers to go bee-friendly needed as government bans harmful pesticides

Responding to news today that the National Farming Union’s (NFU) application for an emergency authorisation for neonicotinoid seed treatments has been declined by DEFRA Minister George Eustice, Friends of the Earth’s nature campaigner, Sandra Bell, said:

“Once again the NFU’s attempt to bring banned bee harming pesticides back into our fields has been shown to be flawed.  

“It’s certainly great news for bees that this application has been rejected. Now we need a permanent ban on all uses of these pesticides.

“Farmers need support to find effective bee friendly ways to protect their crops, not the reintroduction of products that have been shown to harm essential pollinators and the other beneficial insects that help control pests.”  

ENDS

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