MPs urged the government to ban pesticides to save bees

Several studies conclude that pesticides containing neonicotinoids affect the nervous systems of bees.

13:05 06 April 2013

The number of beesthat pollinate more than £1 billion worth of crops in the UK each year, have declined dramatically over the past 25 years. Several studies conducted suggest that pesticides with neonicotinoids may be playing a role.

For this reason, Members of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee are calling for moratorium on the use of sprays containing neonicotinoids. MPs believe that Britain, which refused to ban these chemicals because their impact on bees is unclear, is extraordinarily complacent about the subject.

In their report, MPs point out that two-thirds of the bees population have suffered because of these pesticides.

 

"We believe the weight of scientific evidence now warrants precautionary action," said the committee's chairwoman, Labour MP Joan Walley.

 

"So we are calling for a moratorium on pesticides linked to bee decline to be introduced by 1 January next year."

 

She added: "If farmers had to pollinate fruit and vegetables without the help of insects it would costs hundreds of millions of pounds and we would all be stung by rising food prices.”