Over three quarters of the UK public (76%) think the UK government should support EU proposals to extend current restrictions on bee-harming pesticides to all crops, a YouGov survey for Friends of the Earth reveals today.

The YouGov question was: “There is currently an EU-wide ban on the use of three pesticides on some crops because of their threat to bees. Proposals have been made to extend the ban of these pesticides to all crops. Do you think the UK government should support or oppose extending the ban on these pesticides?”

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who will give his speech to the Conservative party conference later today, is coming under increasing pressure to reveal whether or not the UK government will back the European Commission proposal for a ban on the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides on all outdoor crops.

Speaking about neonicotinoids following a speech in the summer where he outlined his vision for a Green Brexit, Mr Gove said new research had raised “profound concerns” and that he was contemplating the need for further restrictions on their use.

In 2013 three neonicotinoid pesticides were restricted from being used on flowering crops attractive to bees across the EU after it was revealed that they posed a threat to them. However, neonicotinoid treated seeds are still widely used in other crops - such as wheat - and as a result are still entering the soil and water. Evidence now shows that neonicotinoids used on crops like wheat can end up in wild flowers or flowering crops, thus posing an additional threat to bees - and that is why the European Commission now wants to extend the ban to all crops.
 
The European Commission is due to discuss the issue later this week (Thursday 5 - Friday 6 October), where Member States are expected to indicate whether or not they support the proposal. The EC proposal follows new assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published in October 2016 which identified risks from bees being exposed via routes other than direct exposure from the pollen and nectar of flowering crops. These included exposure via dust drift when seeds are drilled, wildflowers next to arable crops, and flowering crops grown straight after a neonic treated crop in the same soil.
 
The YouGov survey for Friends of the Earth revealed that:
 
• A total of 76%* of those polled online supported an extension of an EU-wide ban on three neonicotinoid pesticides to all crops - including 79% of those who said they intended to vote Conservative at the next election.

• Only five per cent opposed the proposal, with 18% saying they didn’t know.
 
Fears that yields of oilseed rape would fall without neonicotinoids have proved to be unfounded. Many farmers already grow wheat – one of the main crops that would be covered by the extended ban - without neonicotinoids. 

Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett said:
 
“The UK public are firmly in favour of extending the current ban on bee-harming pesticides to all crops.
 
“With overwhelming scientific evidence of the threat neonicotinoid chemicals pose to Britain’s bees, Michael Gove must commit the UK to supporting a total ban.
 
“Farmers up and down the country are already successfully producing crops without neonicotinoids – the government and NFU must do more to help farmers switch to less damaging alternatives.”

Buglife chief executive Matt Shardlow said:

“The evidence is in, the harm to wild bees and pollination is beyond reasonable dispute, and the time for contemplation is over.  Now Michael Gove must decide, does he stand with bees, flowers, crops and farmers, or with the narrow interests of the pesticide companies.”

A Friends of the Earth briefing on the need for further restrictions on neonicotinoids is available https://cdn.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/From%20Brussels%20to%20Westminster.pdf

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1,716 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22nd - 24th September 2017. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).