Following new reports that neonicotinoid pesticides are harming essential pollinators and contributing to declines in bee populations across the world, there have been calls on the government to review licensing of the controversial chemicals. Studies from France, the UK and the United States released this month and last link the pesticides with Colony Collapse disorder (the abrupt disappearance of worker bees from a colony or hive) and reduced production of queens in hives.

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Neonicotinoids have long been suspected of contributing to declining bee populations, which have been described as facing “death from a thousand cuts” by experts, as human developments encroach on their habitats and climate change, biodiversity loss, parasites and disease all impact on bee health.

Neonicotinoids are the first new class of insecticides introduced in the last 50 years, and their toxicity to mammals is much lower than previously used chemicals. Neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid, implicated in one study by Harvard University researchers, is currently the most widely used insecticide in the world. The chemicals’ use has been subject to strict limitations in France since the 1990s, when neonicotinoids were first suspected of causing mass die-offs in bee populations.

In two recent studies, researchers at the University of Stirling have suggested that the pesticides damage worker bees’ ability to navigate and affect the production of queens and French national research organisation INRA has supported their findings, suggesting that the pesticides affect bees’ navigation back to their hives.

Last week, Friends of the Earth launched a campaign to support bees and raise awareness of their plight. As part of its campaign, the environmental organisation is urging the UK government to undertake a review of its pesticide regulations.

Defra’s reaction to the new studies has been heavily criticised. The environment department has been accused of sluggishness, pomposity and fence sitting in its response to the studies so far, whereas other European governments have launched investigations and introduced restrictions on neonicotinoid use in recent years.

A Defra spokesperson told Farming Online that the Westminster and Welsh governments have allocated millions of pounds in funding to supporting bee populations and assured that the department would be reviewing the new research. The spokesperson said, “This is brand new research. We review the science regularly and will look carefully at the reports. If any new evidence shows the need for action we will not hesitate to act. The UK has a robust system for assessing risks from pesticides.”

However, the Defra spokesperson stated, “The evidence shows neonicotinoids do not pose an unacceptable risk to honey bees when products are used correctly,” whereas the latest studies from the United States suggest that, even when bees were exposed to levels of neonicotinoids well within regulations and under typical conditions of use, bees showed signs of pesticide poisoning and Colony Collapse Disorder occurred.    

It remains to be seen what Defra will make of the new evidence, though the Guardian’s environment editor Damian Carrington last week lambasted the department, declaring that “The new data makes it impossible to maintain this position, whatever vested interests are at stake.”

Researchers from Reading University last week revealed that the loss of bee populations would cost the UK £1.8 billion every year, a figure 20 per cent higher than had previously been speculated.

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