Dutch Parliament calls for European suspension on dangerous pesticides

Wild pollinators such as bumblebees and moths contribute about 90% of UK insect pollination, which is worth £510 million to British farmers.

Matt Shardlow, Buglife CEO, said "Buglife welcomes this decision and urges the UK government to suspend Neonicotinoids and apply pressure on the European Union to follow suit. Action needs to be taken now to suspend Neonicotinoids in order to protect our wild bees, hoverflies, moths and other pollinators. The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has already committed to make a decision on the UK future of Neonicotinoids in January and Buglife is eagerly awaiting that decision."

Wildlife charity, Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust has been campaigning to ban the use of Neonicotinoids since 2009. Numerous scientific studies have shown the harmful effects these insecticides have on pollinating insects such as bumblebees, flies and butterflies yet Defra has not taken preventative action.

New synthetic chemicals
Neonicotinoid pesticides are a comparatively new group of synthetic chemicals related to Nicotine that are highly toxic to insects. They are used as a coating for agricultural seeds and in pot plants. The chemicals spread throughout the plant and into the nectar and pollen that bees then eat. Scientific evidence presented in the new report shows that bees eating nectar and pollen contaminated with imidacloprid (the commonest neonicotinoid) then forage less and produce fewer offspring. Other research has shown that imidacloprid levels in rivers can cause deformities in growing mayflies.