The European Commission is proposing to suspend the use of three pesticides on the basis of evidence from the European Food Safety Authority that the chemicals may be harmful to bees.
In a briefing on 31 January, a spokesman for DG on health and consumer policy confirmed the Commission has asked member states to inhibit the use of the commonly-used pesticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin for a period of two years. The ban would apply to crops that attract bees, including sunflower, rapeseed and cotton.
The spokesman said the Commission hopes to adopt the regulation in March and implement it by 1 July.
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