Press releases
While European decision makers all claim we need to do more to protect bees and biodiversity, the latest developments in bees’ protection against pesticides shows us that decision-makers still give priority to agribusiness over protection of the environment. The Bee Guidance Document, Sulfoxaflor and Cypermethrin are some of the ongoing discussions at EU-level that tell us that Member States keep pushing for maintaining bee-toxic pesticides in our environment.
Today, the European Court of Justice has confirmed that the European Commission was entitled to ban the use of neonics on bee-attractive crops in 2013, in its jugement [1] on the appeal case opposing Bayer to the European Commission. The Luxembourg-based institution backed the use of the precautionary principle and that, even in case of uncertainty, the European Commission was entitled to make such restrictions.
Within the Italian province of South Tyrol, 32 different agricultural pesticides were detected on children's playgrounds. An international team of scientists strongly advises to take action for public health.
Reacting to the European Commission’s reply [1] to PAN Europe’s demand to ban the export of pesticides not approved in the European Union and the import of agricultural products made with those same pesticides, Angeliki Lysimachou - Science Policy officer at PAN Europe - said today: “PAN Europe welcomes the Commission’s commitment to put an end to the disgraceful practice of double standards and we look forward to seeing the EU taking leadership on the elimination of hazardous pesticides globally.”
New scientific information shows that Sulfoxaflor and Flupyradifurone, two new generation neonicotinoid insecticides approved in the EU in 2015, are more toxic to bees than initially thought. The Standing Committee on phytopharmaceuticals meeting of 3-4 December will discuss the future of these substances. While the Commission proposes taking action, some Member States are pushing to maintain these bee-toxic pesticides on the market, repeating a familiar scenario where Member States hamper the protection of pollinators...
Today, the EU Ombudsman released its final decision, criticising the European Commission´s methods in approving active substances used in pesticides. The EU watchdog also recalled the “commitment by the Von der Leyen Commission to take action to reduce by 50% the overall use of – and risk from – chemical pesticides by 2030” [1].
European Council documents acquired by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and its members show that Austria takes an open and direct position in the Council of Agriculture Ministers against the EU Commission’s strategy aimed at reducing pesticide use by 50 percent by 2030. Indirect criticism of the Commission's 50% reduction target was expressed by Lithuania and Ireland. The other Member States have so far taken no position or expressed neutrality on this issue.
Ahead of a gathering of experts from EU member states to discuss the implementation of the “Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive” (SUD) [1], PAN Europe warns that national plans towards reduction in pesticide use are not only insufficient, but could derail the Farm to Fork Strategy entirely.
Today, PAN Europe along with more than 70 civil society organisations wrote to the European Commission: Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioners Stella Kyriakides, Janusz Wojciechowski and Virginijus Sinkevičius, asking it to put an end to the EU’s double standards in relation to hazardous pesticides.
Today, the Environment Committee of the European Parliament strongly challenged[1] the head of the pesticide unit from DG Sante and European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) head of pesticide unit for the untransparent and unscientific work they are carrying out to water down the protection of bees against pesticides in Europe.
