The EU is moving ahead with proposals to partially ban agricultural chemicals which its risk assessment experts have said present an "unacceptable" risk to bees.

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Last week the European Commission accepted proposals to ban use of neonicotinoid pesticides on plants attractive to bees, but for the time being the European Food Safety Authority's recommendation remains just that. EFSA scientist Herman Fontier admitted on Wednesday (6th February) that EFSA has no power to enforce a ban.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has intimated that he may choose to ignore the EFSA's advice, produced in January following a review of scientific evidence around neonicotinoid use; a decision which could have serious ramifications for the UK's pollinators, estimated to be worth around £2 billion to UK farmers each year. Fontier told the government Environmental Audit Committee that, if he so wishes, Paterson is free to disregard the Authority's findings.

Soil Association Policy Director Peter Melchett commented on the developments, "We welcome the proposals from the Commissioner for health and consumer policy who has said that 'swift and decisive' action is needed to restrict the use of certain neonicitonoid pesticides. Sadly, any European ban will come too late to stop neonicotinoids being used this spring.

"The European Commission has taken account of the latest scientific evidence and we urge the UK government to do the same.  Until now the UK has been one of only four EU member states resisting a ban on neonicitonoid use. In the light of calls for a ban from the EFSA and the European Commission, we urge the UK government to act now to protect the bees."

Appearing before the EAC last week, as part of its ongoing inquest into the government's response to evidence of risks to pollinators from neonicoitinoids, EFSA's Herman Fontier reacted with surprise to claims by pesticide manufacturer Bayer CropScience that the Authority's Assessment contained "gaps" in knowledge, or was somehow incomplete. He assured the Committee that data supplied to EFSA by Bayer had been thoroughly evaluated "from the first to the last study."

If passed, the EU Commission's proposals could come into force as early as July. Neonicotinoids have already been banned or subject to tough restrictions in France, Italy and Germany.

The EAC will publish a report based on its findings in March. Defra is currently conducting its own research into the effects of neonicotinoids on bees, at the behest of Mr Paterson.