EU court upholds ban on pesticides threatening bees

The General Court of the European Union on Thursday ruled in favor of upholding a partial ban on three insecticides that pose a threat to bee populations, but lifted restrictions on one pesticide after a complaint by chemical giant BASF.

The court dismissed cases brought forward by German chemical giant Bayer and Switzerland's Syngenta, both of which wanted to continue using the pesticides despite a decline in bee populations in recent years being linked to the use of pesticides in agriculture.

What the court said

• "The General Court confirms the validity of the restrictions introduced at EU level in 2013 against the insecticides clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid because of the risks those substances pose to bees"
• "Given the existence of new studies ...  the Commission was fully entitled to find that it was appropriate to review the approval of the substances in question"
• Regarding the lift on restrictions in the BASF case, the European Commission had not fully assessed the consequences of the partial ban when it took the decision in 2013 

'Ruling sets EU's priorities straight'

Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace welcomed Thursday's decision, calling it an "indictment against corporate bullying."

"The ruling sets the EU's priorities straight — its primary duty is to protect people and nature, not company profit margins," said Franziska Achterberg of Greenpeace. 

In a statement, Syngenta said the ruling was "disappointing and unfortunate."

"The evolution of modern farming technology and responsible, science-based environmental management is imperative if we are to sustainably produce affordable, safe and local food to feed more than 9 billion people by 2050 and take care of our planet," the statement said. 

The court ruling can be appealed within two months before the European Court of Justice, the EU's top court.

What the banned pesticides are: The three insecticides that have been partially banned are neonicotinoids, a class of pesticides based on the chemical structure of nicotine, and they have been widely used in agriculture over the past 20 years.

Why neonicotinoids are bad: Unlike other pesticides that only affect the surface of plant, neonicotinoids are absorbed into the plants, meaning that they kill off aphids and grubs, and also have an impact on other insects as well. In February, the European Food Safety Authority released a report stating that "most uses" of the neonicotinoid pesticides posed a serious risk to bees. 

Why bees are important: Bees play an essential role in the pollination of crops, so a decrease in numbers poses economic and food-supply concerns.

Possible recourse: The ruling can be appealed within two months before the European Court of Justice, the European Union's top tribunal.

law/rt (AFP, dpa, Reuters)