The UK minister in charge of agriculture Michael Gove, outlined his intention to introduce a total ban on neonictinoids in the Guardian newspaper on the 8 November.

Gove cited research posing that neonictinoids had proven to be harmful to insect populations, particularly bees.

“Not to act would be to risk continuing down a course which could have extensive and permanent effects on bee populations,” Gove said.

“That is not a risk I am prepared to take, so the UK will be supporting further restrictions on neonicotinoids. Unless the evidence base changes again, the government will keep these restrictions in place after we have left the EU.”

Neonictinoids are often used by farmers in the UK to control pests and as a coating to protect seeds from pests such as aphids.

The proposed ban will have a particular impact on sugar beet farmers as according to experts, neonictinoids are the only product on the market that have not developed a resistance to aphids and the diseases they carry.

EU impact

While the UK is still a member of the EU they retain the right to vote on any proposal to ban pesticides and this decision could have an impact across Europe.

It also signifies part of a larger European move against the use of pesticide use in food production, as the decision to extend the glyphosate licence was postponed earlier today.

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