On Wednesday, government advisors on the Expert Committee on Pesticides met to discuss the NFU’s appeal for a derogation on neonicotinoid pesticides, which were partially banned by the EU Commission in 2013 in light of increasing evidence of their effects on bee health.

A review of the EU’s restrictions is expected before the end of the year and, after gaining approval for use in four counties at the second time of asking last year, the NFU has again applied for a derogation on the partially-banned pesticides.

According to the farm union, neonicotinoids are essential for controlling cabbage stem flea beetles in hotspot areas; NFU vice president Guy Smith said that research from former government agency FERA shows that flea beetle numbers have increased significantly since the EU restrictions came into effect.  

According to Mr Smith, “The damage caused by CSFB has contributed to a reduced area planted with oilseed rape in England which is estimated to be up to 14 per cent down in the 2015–16 season. The neonicotinoid seed treatments are effective in reducing the damage caused by the pest CSFB and prevents the destruction of a crop which is economically and environmentally important for farmers.”

He said, “With emergency use of neonicotinoids granted in eight countries across the EU in 2015, we are conscious that British farmers will be operating at a disadvantage without access to this important insecticide.”

However, campaigners from Friends of the Earth have pointed out that average UK crop yields rose after the EU restrictions on neonics were introduced and claimed that the weight of evidence of  their harm to bees and other insect species has only increased in the intervening period.

Ahead of the Expert Committee’s meeting, Friends of the Earth bee campaigner Dave Timms said “Allowing farmers to use banned bee-harming pesticides would be reckless and unnecessary. Bees are essential for pollinating our crops - we can’t afford to gamble with their future. The government must keep these dangerous pesticides out of our fields.”

As with last year’s successful application, the NFU has requested a derogation for a limited portion of the oilseed rape crop in England, where fields are at greatest risk from cabbage stem flea beetles. It emerged last year that the union’s first unsuccessful request would have seen neonicotinoids relicensed for much of the country. The types of neonicotinoids applied for are thiamethoxam (Cruiser OSR) and clothianidin (Modesto).

The granting of last year’s request proved controversial, as claims emerged that government advisors had been gagged ahead of the successful application’s approval. Though advisors discussed the NFU’s request on Thursday, the final decision on neonics lies with the government.