24th Jan 2011
French beekeepers announced a victory against authorization of the Syngenta pesticide, CRUISER® - the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam.
Meanwhile in the UK, Martin Caton proposed an Early Day Motion to suspend neonicotinoids "pending
more exhaustive tests and the development of international
methodologies for properly assessing the long-term effects of systemic
pesticides on invertebrate populations".
DEFRA deny the regulatory system needs to be changed in order to adequately test the safety of neonicotinoid pesticides.
EPA Document can be downloaded here (PDF - opens new window).
A press release from the French Beekeepers Association said:
"The National Union of French Beekeeping (UNAF) today announced victory at the Council of State for France, against authorization of the pesticide CRUISER®UNAF requested the cancellation of three annual decisions to allow CRUISER 350, and the condemnation of the Ministry of Agriculture, at a Special Public Hearing of the Council of State of France.
The Council
of State today, Monday, January 24, 2011 at 14:00 hours, heard
three applications from UNAF, presented by their lawyer Bernard Fau,
against the authorization decisions of CRUISER 350, that French and
European beekeepers have been denouncing for years because of its
devastating effects on bees and all pollinators.....
Read more here (PDF file, opens new window)