Government Outlines Plan for 'Complete' Ban on Bee-killing Pesticides in the UK

The UK government has announced plans to ban neonicotinoids, pesticides notorious for their devastating effects on bee populations. The move aims to outlaw chemicals such as clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, marking a significant step in protecting pollinators essential for biodiversity and agriculture.

While the ban signals progress, ministers are considering allowing the use of the highly toxic Cruiser SB pesticide in 2024 under emergency authorisation. Applications from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and British Sugar are under review, raising concerns about consistency in policy enforcement.

Cruiser SB, a neonicotinoid, has been shown to poison bees by destroying their nervous systems. According to Prof. Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex, just one teaspoon of the chemical can kill 1.25 billion honeybees. Even sub-lethal doses impair bees’ cognitive functions, making it difficult for them to forage. At the same time, pesticide residues can persist in the soil for years, causing long-term environmental harm.

Paul de Zylva, nature campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “An end to the previous government’s annual pantomime of granting the ‘emergency’ use of these deeply harmful pesticides is long overdue. But we’re not out of the woods yet – the government must follow through by fully committing to a complete ban come January. And it must go even further still, by scrapping the current, weak national pesticides action plan and instead produce a credible version.”

Former Environment Secretary Michael Gove pledged in 2017 to use Brexit as an opportunity to end the use of bee-harming pesticides. However, since leaving the EU, the UK government has granted emergency authorisations for using thiamethoxam every year under specific conditions, including outbreaks of the pest virus yellows, which affects sugar beet crops. The EU, in contrast, has banned all emergency authorisations of neonicotinoids.

The Office for Environmental Protection is investigating the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) over the government’s approval of thiamethoxam 2023. This scrutiny highlights growing tensions between environmental priorities and agricultural pressures.

While the UK’s proposed ban on neonicotinoids represents a vital step for pollinator protection, the repeated reliance on emergency authorisations undermines the broader effort. As public and environmental watchdogs demand accountability, the government faces increasing pressure to align its policies with its stated commitment to safeguarding the environment.

Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Doug Parr, said: “There should be no place in this country for pesticides that poison our bees, period. So it’s good to see ministers confirming their commitment to a complete ban on these bee-killing chemicals, but now they should waste no time in bringing it into effect.”

Environment minister Emma Hardy said, “We are delivering on our promise to ban toxic bee-killing pesticides and ending the long-term decline of our wildlife. A healthy environment is vital to our food and economic security. Protecting bees by stopping the use of damaging neonicotinoids is an important step in supporting the long-term health of our environment, waterways, and farming sector.”