30 April 2013
Thousands of petitioners are rejoicing after a vote by the European Union in favour of the ban against neonicotinoid pesticides. The European Food Safety Authority have reported a toxicity risk to bees from three neonicotinoid pesticides. Sadly our Environment Minister, Owen Paterson, voted against the ban, ignoring 300,000 requests.
Reacting to the vote Green Party MEP Keith Taylor said, "It's great news that Europe is set to go ahead with a suspension of neonicotinoid use but it's no thanks to the reckless actions of the UK Government.
"Instead of defending the short-term interests of the agro- chemical industry, the British Government should have prioritised reversing the decline in our bee populations and voted in favour of a suspension.
"For Greens this is only a first step. We want a complete ban of all neonicotinoids to prevent the collapse of bee colonies as only a full ban will stop the exposure of non-target insects to the persistent, systemic compounds that stay in the soil and find their way to nectar and pollen over many years."
Susan Chapman South East Dorset Green Party Press Officer
Quoting from Office of the Green MEPs keithtaylor@greenmeps.org.uk
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