Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks

Bee-harming pesticide use given emergency authorization in UK

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jan 2023 11:46
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The UK government has once more authorized the use of a pesticide that has been outlawed to protect bees.

  • x
  • A honeybee gathers nectar from a flower at a farm in the western Austrian village of Seefeld May 14, 2013. (Reuters)
    A honeybee gathers nectar from a flower at a farm in the western Austrian village of Seefeld on May 14, 2013. (Reuters)

The UK government has given emergency authorization for the use of a banned pesticide because of the harm it can cause bees. The permission to use a neonicotinoid on sugar beet seeds has been given to protect the crop from a particularly damaging virus that is spread by aphids. 

The authorization was given despite the independent panel of pesticide experts' advice. The campaign group Friends of the Earth labeled the move "incredibly brazen." However, Michael Sly, chairman of the NFU Sugar board, welcomed the decision, saying he was "relieved".

"The British sugar beet crop continues to be threatened by virus yellows disease, which in recent years has caused crop losses of up to 80%. The homegrown sugar industry is working hard to find viable, long-term solutions to this disease," he said.

The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that strict conditions would be in place and that the pesticide, thiamethoxam seed treatment, could only be used if independent modeling predicted a yellow virus incidence of 63% or higher.

Read next: Climate change may drastically reshape bees, affect pollination

If that threshold is met and the pesticide used, other conditions will minimize risks to the environment, it said. The overall ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides remains in place.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said the emergency authorization was taken after "careful consideration" and as "a necessary measure to protect the industry".

Related News

Wild bee species at existential risk in Europe doubles in past decade

Bees in Iraq’s Basra threatened by water crisis and declining honey

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the independent UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP), and DEFRA's own Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Gideon Henderson, all provided input into the decision. However, the ECP was not in favor of the authorization, saying "In light of the risk assessment conducted, a reduction in survival of honey bees and impacts on homing flight ability could occur."

The HSE mentioned the risks posed to bees foraging on the pollen and nectar from flowering crops planted in fields after the impact of treated sugar beet. Professor Henderson, however, said that could be dealt with by insisting on a 32-month minimum period before planting a flowering crop. 

In his advice, he also said, "There is clear and abundant evidence that these neonicotinoids are harmful to species other than those they are intended to control, and particularly to pollinators, including bees."

In granting authorization, the Minister conceded that there was still "a degree of uncertainty in relation to the risks to bees."

Read next: World’s first vaccine for honeybees approved

Despite the pesticide not being approved, this is the third year the government has given emergency authorization. 

Sandra Bell, of Friends of the Earth, described the decision as "incredibly brazen", adding that "the government has gone directly against the advice of its own scientific advisors with potentially devastating consequences for bees and other vital pollinators."

"The health of us all and the planet depends on their survival. The government must fulfill its duty to protect wildlife and keep pesticides off our crops for good."

The decision comes days after the Court of Justice of the European Union said that EU member states can't offer exemptions to the bloc's ban on crop seeds treated with neonicotinoids. 

  • bees
  • Bee
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS