The Wildlife Trusts welcome this decision and highlight the devastating impacts of using neonicotinoids in recent years.
Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“We welcome UK Government’s recognition that there is no place in British agriculture for toxic bee-killing pesticides. Ending the use of deadly chemicals is fundamental for both food security and nature recovery, because farming relies on a healthy natural world.
“Bees and other insects contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the UK economy each year through natural pollination. We know that responsible farmers don’t want to use these chemicals, so industry needs to provide better support to transition to chemical-free alternatives.
Today’s decision is a positive step towards the target of reducing dangerous pesticides use by 50% by 2030 – it must not be undermined by granting the emergency use of neonicotinoids in 2025.
"The expert advice is clear that the environmental risk of using these chemicals far outweighs the economic benefits. Policymakers must follow the science and never authorise the emergency use of neonicotinoids again.”
The “emergency” use of the highly damaging neonicotinoid Thiamethoxam was authorised by previous UK Government administrations for four years in a row, against scientific evidence and expert advice. Ahead of the 2024 General Election, the Labour Party promised to end the use of this neonicotinoid when in government.
Applications to use Thiamethoxam again in 2024 came despite an industry commitment to end reliance on the banned pesticide by 2023. A further application has been made for use of Thiamethoxam on sugar beet in 2025, on which the Government is expected to publish a decision in January. The Wildlife Trusts expect the Government to follow scientific advice and refuse the authorisation.
Thiamethoxam is lethal – even a miniscule trace of this toxin can disrupt a bee’s ability to navigate and reproduce, significantly reducing the chance of survival. A third of UK food crops are pollinated by insects so our food system cannot function without bees.
85% of rivers tested in 2023-2024 were found to have deadly neonicotinoid pesticides present, including those authorised for use on sugar beet, with the proportion affected seeming to have risen slightly from previous years.
Hundreds of thousands of people have backed The Wildlife Trusts’ calls over the last five years, calling for an end to the use of neonicotinoids on UK crops. Over 300,000 individuals and organisations have signed The Wildlife Trusts’ petitions asking UK Government to reject each request to allow the use of Thiamethoxam, and thousands of people have emailed their MP to ask for better support for farmers who choose alternatives. At present, almost 50,000 people have signed an open letter addressed to British Sugar, which is asking the company to go further to meet its promises to back those farmers.
