
“The Government knows the clear harm that neonicotinoid pesticides cause to bees and other pollinators and just three years ago supported restrictions on them across the European Union.”
The UK government has approved a pesticide thought to kill bees and which is currently banned in the EU.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has agreed to allow a product containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam despite the chemical – thiamethoxam being considered toxic for the insect population. Studies have shown that the pesticide can harm bee brain development, weaken immune systems, and can leave bees unable to fly.
The decision comes after the UK Government launched its Healthy Bees Plan 2030, in a bid to “protect and improve the health of honey bees in England and Wales”.
‘Crucial for viable farm businesses’
According to the Westminster government, the minister has green-lighted an emergency authorisation of the pesticide for “limited and controlled use” for only up to 120 days on sugar beet.
The decision was made in response to requests from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and British Sugar to give sugar beets extra protection from a virus that significantly reduced yields last year and the department is fearing a similar outcome again.

NFU sugar board chairman, Michael Sly, said: “Virus yellows disease is having an unprecedented impact on Britain’s sugar beet crop, with some growers experiencing yield losses of up to 80%, and this authorisation is desperately needed to fight this disease.
“It will be crucial in ensuring that Britain’s sugar beet growers continue to have viable farm businesses.”
Declining bee population
While the union has assured that the pesticide would only be used in a limited and controlled way, environmental groups have slammed the Government for allowing farmers to use such a highly damaging pesticide and jeopardizing the lives of bees, destroying wildflowers, and polluting rivers.
A 2019 analysis of 700,000 naturalist records, found that a third of wild bee and hoverfly species are in decline across Britain.
“Bad news for bees: The Government has bowed to pressure from the National Farmers Union to agree the use of a highly damaging pesticide,” the Wildlife Trusts commented.
“The Government knows the clear harm that neonicotinoid pesticides cause to bees and other pollinators and just three years ago supported restrictions on them across the European Union.”
According to The Independent, the UK has lost a third of its bees in the last decade while land-based insects have declined 50 percent in the last 75 years.
“Insects perform vital roles such as pollination of crops and wildflowers, and nutrient recycling, but so many have suffered drastic declines,” the Trust explained.
“Evidence suggests we’ve lost at least 50% of insects since 1970, and 41% of all insect species are now ‘threatened with extinction’.
“We need urgent action to restore the abundance of our insect populations, not broken promises that make the ecological crisis even worse,” the Trust added.
‘Environmentally regressive decision’
Buglife CEO Matt Shardlow said in a statement: “We are very upset.
“This is an environmentally regressive decision by Defra.
“Destroying wildflowers in the countryside to prevent them transferring insecticides to bees is obviously beyond the pale.
“In addition, no action is proposed to prevent the pollution of rivers with insecticides applied to sugar beet.”
Petition
Outraged citizens have launched a petition calling on the government to roll back its decision.
“This pesticide is lethal to bees and other pollinators which our environment desperately needs to pollinate flora and fauna. Bees pollinate up to 3/4 of crops which makes the use of this pesticide incredibly counter-intuitive,” the petition reads.
You can be a part of the petition here.
Share this story: UK government approves EU banned bee-killing pesticide in ‘environmentally regressive’ move.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th January 2023
Do you know which ingredients make your shampoo non-vegan? The cosmetic industry has gone through a radical shift in the last few years as more consumers become aware of the impact their purchases make. As a result, the demand for vegan hair care products has soared. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the ingredients in …
Continue reading “What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try”
Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 18th January 2023
The NHS Start for Life website has added information about vegan and vegetarian babies. Nutritionists and dietitians have raised concerns about the health implications of vegan diets for babies following the publication of the NHS’s vegan infant nutrition guide. The NHS Start for Life website, which provides guidance for new parents, has added a new …
Continue reading “Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …