Defra has rejected a request by the NFU to allow farmers to use seed treated with neonicotinoid pesticides that were subjected to a partial ban by the EU Commission three years ago.

NFU applied for permission to use treated seeds on almost 200,000 hectares, around a third of the UK OSR crop. Late on Thursday, the farming minister George Eustice turned down the appeal on the advice of the government’s Expert Committee on Pesticides (more information on the advice is available here).

On Thursday, a Defra spokesperson said "Today, based on the evidence and advice from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides, Defra rejected two applications by the National Farmers Union to use neonicotinoids on oilseed rape crops. Applications are considered by the Health and Safety Executive and by the independent Expert Committee before a decision is taken by Ministers."
 
Friends of the Earth, which submitted information to the Expert Committee, welcomed the news. The environment group’s bee campaigner Dave Timms commented, “The Government’s decision to reject this application is great news for Britain’s bees. Allowing farmers to use banned bee-harming pesticides would have been a real threat to these crucial pollinators.

"The Expert Committee on Pesticides has given a damning verdict on the applications. We hope the NFU will get the message and give up trying to bring back these dangerous chemicals.

"This refusal is extremely welcome, but the applications and evidence submitted are all still secret. They must be released immediately. Ministers must now push for the ban on these chemicals to be made permanent.”

On Friday, the NFU said it would continue with its application. NFU Vice President Guy Smith said, “This is a blow for arable farmers across the country whose oilseed rape crops are under heavy threat from cabbage stem flea beetle. We are disappointed with the Minister’s decision; we strongly argued the case on behalf of our members.

“We remain committed to obtaining approval for the emergency use of neonicotinoid seed treatments for this planting season. These plant protection products are absolutely vital in protecting England’s oilseed rape crop from pests. We are currently looking into making further applications.”
 
Last year, the NFU gained approval for its application at the second time of asking, after a request for neonicotinoids to be used on most of the oilseed in the UK was rejected. The eventual approval - for OSR in four English counties - proved controversial due to the lack of transparency, and the length of time between the second application and the government’s decision attracted the ire of the farm union.