EU manufacturers of neonicotinoid pesticides have proposed a series of conciliatory measures in a bid to avoid a tightening of EU restrictions on the use of their pesticides, which have been shown to cause serious harm to bee colonies.

On Thursday (28 March), Bayer CropScience and Syngenta unveiled an 'action plan', which they said may "unlock the EU stalemate on bee health"; in recent voting, the agriculture ministers of 14 EU states blocked Commission proposals to ban the use of neonicotinoids on plants attractive to bees for a period of two years.

The Commission was acting on the advice of the health and safety executive EFSA. In January, EFSA reported that neonicotinoids, which account for 24 percent of the pesticide market, present an "unacceptable risk" to bees.

Bayer CropScience spokesperson Dr. Rüdiger Scheitza claimed that various parasites and diseases are behind bee decline, but added, "we are keen to do everything in our power to give consumers confidence in our products." The pesticide manufacturers have flatly denied that their products harm bees and suggested EFSA's investigation was flawed, though their assertions have been questioned by EFSA officials.

John Atkin, Syngenta's Chief Operating Officer, said, "This comprehensive plan will bring valuable insights into the area of bee health, whereas a ban on neonicotinoids would simply close the door to understanding the problem."

Under the plan, the two companies propose to:

• Significantly scale up the creation of pollen rich, flowering field margins across the EU, to provide essential habitat and nutrition for bees.
• Begin a comprehensive field monitoring program for bee health, including the detection of neonicotinoid crop protection products – particularly in maize, oilseed rape, sunflower and cotton.
• Implement mandatory measures to mitigate the exposure risk to bees
• Invest in and roll out new technologies which would reduce dust emissions from the planting of seed treated with neonicotinoid chemicals.
• Invest in research into parasites and viruses affecting bee health.

On Tuesday, the UK government released the findings of field trials commissioned to examine the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bee health. The field tests revealed no clear pattern between exposure to neonicotinoids and the 'success' of bee colonies, but all bee populations studied were found to have been exposed to the chemicals. On Wednesday, two UK laboratory studies provided further evidence of the chemicals inhibiting bees' brain activity, as well as their ability to learn and communicate.  

Friends of the Earth Nature Campaigner Sandra Bell said of the government trials, "This single study doesn't counter the comprehensive review of the impact of neoniocotinoid insecticides on bee populations recently conducted by European scientists. Thorough testing should have taken place before these pesticides were licensed - it's astonishing this research is only being done now, after the chemicals have become widely used throughout Europe. 

"Defra has admitted to problems with its new study, but bee health is far too urgent to wait until more research has been completed - restrictions should be placed on these pesticides until bee safety can be assured." Friends of the Earth has accused the UK government, which blocked the Commission proposals earlier this month, of deliberately adopting delaying tactics over the neonicotinoid issue.

Health Commissioner Tonio Borg has expressed the desire to press ahead with a temporary restriction, as recommended by EFSA; however, before he can implement a ban further meetings with Council ministers will be necessary. Nevertheless, a health commission spokesperson said on Thursday that EFSA had provided "sufficient evidence" to support a restriction if the corporate plan is deemed unsatisfactory and EU governments still cannot reach an agreement.