USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service Report—EU-28: Further Restrictions to Neonicotinoids
October 26, 2017
From: USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service
GAIN Report Number: E17069
EU-28
Post: Brussels USEU
Further Restrictions to Neonicotinoids
Report Categories:
Agriculture in the News
SP2-Prevent or Resolve Barriers to Trade that Hinder U.S. Food and Agricultural Exports
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Proposal for further restrictions
In the meantime, the European Commission included draft proposals amend the conditions for the use of all three neonicotinoids on the agenda of the March Standing Committee meeting for Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) for discussion with the Member States. The European Commission proposed a broad extension of the current restrictions on the use of the three neonicotinoids, imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam, in plant protection products. These proposals would ban all uses except application in permanent greenhouses in the EU. The only basis for the proposed restrictions is EFSA’s risk assessment, which is based on a currently unapproved Bee Guidance Document. This theoretical guidance on how to conduct the risk assessment of the impact of Plant Protection Products on bees is not supported by many EU Member States. The document is heavily criticized by industry and Member States regulatory authorities as it is based on single laboratory studies and does not take into account field monitoring data to evaluate these products under normal agricultural conditions. The Guidance is not adopted and not applicable for regulatory purposes in the EU.
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