The Bees and Neonicotinoids – it’s not good
This is taken from the mid-month Indigo Update for January 2021: So, that’s it. We are now officially, finally, out of the EU. The deal is done – and, as always, the devil is in the detail. While much noise was made about imports & exports; about travel restrictions and reciprocal health agreements, much more is only now coming to light, thanks to eagle-eyed watchers. The Guardian newspaper reported on 9th January that the UK Government had broken its promise to maintain the ban on bee-harming pesticides and – quite rightly – those who care about such things are buzzing with anger. Back in 2018 the UK, along with other EU members, banned the use of a particular type of pesticides called neonicontinoids. Its own advisory board had stated, “scientific evidence now suggests the environmental risks posed by neonictinoids – particularly to our bees and pollinators – are greater than previously understood, supporting the case for further restrictions.” It took a lot of work by those who care about the environment to achieve that particular victory, and so it is especially disappointing (to put it mildly) that the UK Government has reneged on the agreement so quickly. So keen was...