After a wealth of research published this year linked controversial pesticides with a decline in insect life, including impacts on beleaguered bee populations, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has ordered an examination into the chemicals' effects on the environment.

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Defra has been spurred into action by the sheer number of studies emerging in past months which associate the use of neonicotinoids with adverse effects on bee populations. On Thursday, MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee were told by the director of an insect conservation society that 33 scientific studies have linked the chemicals with damage to insect populations since 2009.

In addition to evidence from research institutes, the EU's food safety watchdog announced in May that risk assessment legislation used to test the harmful effects of pesticides is flawed and may be missing negative impacts on bees. Some neonicotinoid pesticides have been banned or subjected to heavy restrictions in Germany, France and Italy.

In light of Thursday's revelation, Paterson has asked Defra officials to assess the impact to the UK of stricter regulations and called on FERA to accelerate ongoing studies into the chemicals' impacts on bees. The department was accused of failing to adopt a precautionary approach to chemicals when high-profile studies on bees and neonicotinoids were published in the journal Science in May.

Paul de Zylva, Nature Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, which has called on the government to suspend neonicotinoid use and produce a Bee Plan to support the pollinating insects, said on Thursday, "Owen Paterson is right to speed up studies on the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on UK bees. The Government admits that not enough is known about the impact of these chemicals on wild bee populations, so we don't know whether or not they are safe.

"Neonicotinoids should be withdrawn from sale until their impact on bees has been properly assessed - we can't afford to gamble with the future of these important pollinators. UK ash trees are paying a heavy price for Government indecision - Mr Paterson must end the dithering over action on bees."

Agrochemical manufacturers, supported by industry groups, maintain that declines in pollinating insects are the result of disease and human encroachment on their habitat. However, the Pesticide Action Network has suggested that agchem companies and the regulation bodies responsible for licensing their pesticides are too close, and said the fact that over half of regulators' funding comes from approvals constitutes a “clear conflict of interest."

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