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Government tightens guidance on use of neonics

The Government has announced that new guidance on pesticides will be published to protect pollinators from harmful neonicotinoids.
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Neonics act as a nerve poison on insects, causing paralysis and eventual death

The government has taken another step towards stopping the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides.

On 11 September, the Health and Safety Executive published new guidance for emergency authorisations of pesticides. These changes clarify and strengthen the existing guidance to ensure that anyone applying for an emergency authorisation to use a pesticide must take full account of the risks it poses to pollinators in their application.

It will apply to all pesticides including neonicotinoids, which destroy the bees' nervous systems and are banned in Europe. An emergency authorisation application for the use of neonicotinoid pesticide Cruiser SB was denied earlier this year.

While Garden Organic welcomes this positive step, guidance alone will not stop the use of bee-killing pesticides. We would like to see a firm commitment to enforce a ban on pollinator-killing pesticides of all kinds, in particular for public use by councils and amateur use by gardeners.

Read more about the Government plans here. And learn more about the harmful effects of pesticides and alternatives for your garden in our Pesticide Hub.