Environmental group Friends of the Earth has released a YouGov survey showing that over three quarters of the UK public (76%) think the government should support EU proposals to extend current restrictions on pesticides to all crops.
The survey has been released amid the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester [October 2nd], where [Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs] Secretary Michael Gove is expected to give a speech.
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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 used in other crops – such as wheat.
The European Commission is due to discuss the issue [October 5th-6th], where Member States are expected to indicate whether or not they support the proposal.
“The UK public are firmly in favour of extending the current ban on bee-harming pesticides to all crops,” Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett.
“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.”
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Environmentalists lobby Gove to ban ‘bee-harming’ pesticides
