Kiwi garden centres will not immediately follow hardware giant Bunnings’ lead and stop selling controversial pesticides said to harm bees.
Palmers Garden Centres, Kings Plant Barns and Oderings Garden Centres will not pull products containing neonicotinoids, but will continue to re-evaluate the situation and listen to customer feedback on the matter.
Neonicotinoids are found in pesticides such as Yates Confidor and Kiwicare Plant Health Insect Hit, and are used mainly to control sucking pests such as aphids, thrips and white fly on vegetables such as brassicas, cucurbits, onions and stone fruit. They are also commonly used on lawns, shrubs and ornamentals.
Neonicotinoids have been linked with declining bee numbers and are banned in EU, even though the science on it is still controversial. Some studies suggest they affect bees’ navigation and immune systems, resulting in colony death.
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A spokesperson from Palmers Garden Centre said they frequently re-evaluate their decision to sell products containing the potentially harmful neonicotinoids, but have decided to keep them on the shelves for the time being.
“Part of the reason we have continued to stock these products is because there are very few alternative pesticides that are as effective as Yates Confidor is for controlling pests like aphids and white flies,” Palmers Category Manager Ron van Zuilen said.
Read full, original post: Other retailers not following Bunnings in banning pesticide linked to bee deaths
