Responding to new research, published in the Science journal this week, which found widespread contamination of bee-harming pesticides in honey across the world, Friends of the Earth nature campaigner Sandra Bell said: 

“The discovery of bee-harming pesticides in honey samples across Europe reinforces the need for a complete and permanent ban on these chemicals.

“Honey is a vital source of food to bees, not just a sweet treat for humans, so finding that so many of the honey samples contained a cocktail of these pesticides is a real concern - especially as scientists warn that exposure to a mixture of chemicals can be more harmful.

“This study adds to growing evidence of how much these pesticides contaminate the environment. Nothing short of a full ban will protect our bees.  

“Michael Gove must back proposals for restrictions on neonicotinoids to be extended to all crops – and pledge to keep the UK free from these chemicals post-Brexit.”

Although many of the European samples were taken before the partial restrictions on neonicotinoids came into effect, the use of neonicotinoids has remained widespread across the EU, prompting the EC to propose an extension of the ban to all crops which is being discussed in the EC over the next 2 days.

Earlier this week a Friends of the Earth YouGov poll revealed that over three quarters of the UK public (76%) think the UK government should support EU proposals to extend current restrictions on bee-harming pesticides to all crops.