Thank you for contacting me about the use of neonicotinoids.
The Government continues to support restrictions on neonicotinoids to protect pollinators and emergency authorisations for pesticides are only granted in exceptional circumstances where diseases or pests cannot be controlled by any other reasonable means. These emergency authorisations can provide short-term availability of a product if the applicant can demonstrate that this addresses a danger which cannot be contained by any other reasonable means; that the use will be limited and controlled; and that the necessary protection of people and of the environment can be achieved.
Emergency authorisations are also used by countries across Europe - 10 EU countries including Belgium, Denmark and Spain have granted emergency authorisations for neonicotinoid seed treatments since 2018. Under EU legislation, Member States may grant emergency authorisations in exceptional circumstances. I can assure you that the UK’s approach to the use of emergency authorisations has not changed as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU.
The application for the use of Syngenta’s Cruiser SB on the 2021 sugar beet crop is for England only and the duration of authorisation is strictly limited to the period required to allow supply of the product. Furthermore, sugar beet is a non-flowering crop that is only grown in the East of England.
This exceptional use of Syngenta’s Cruiser SB will be tightly controlled and conditions of the authorisation include reduced application rate; prohibition on any flowering crop being planted in the same field where the product has been used within 22 months of sugar beet; and a prohibition on oilseed rape being planted within 32 months of sugar beet.
Protecting pollinators remains a priority for the Government. The National Pollinator Strategy, published in 2014, is a ten-year plan which sets out how the Government, conservation groups, farmers, beekeepers and researchers can work together to improve the status of the approximately 1,500 pollinating insect species in England.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
