Defra breached law when it let farmers use bee-killing pesticide, watchdog says
Summary
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) broke environmental laws by allowing farmers to use a banned pesticide harmful to bees in 2023 and 2024. A government watchdog investigated and found Defra did not properly assess the pesticide’s risks on protected environmental sites.Key Facts
- Defra granted emergency permission to use a banned pesticide called Cruiser SB on sugar beet crops.
- Cruiser SB contains thiamethoxam, which is highly toxic to honeybees.
- The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) found four breaches of environmental law by Defra.
- Defra failed to properly consider the impact of the pesticide on protected natural areas.
- After the investigation began in July 2024, the government promised to stop emergency approvals for three banned neonicotinoid pesticides.
- Other neonicotinoid pesticides, like Insyst SG, have still been approved for use.
- Defra plans to improve the approval process to better assess the risks to protected sites by November 2026.
- Environmental groups said the findings affected trust in the government’s environmental policies.
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