http://www.facebook.com/grahamperrin/posts/10152213522271693

To whom it may concern
----------------------


I understand that on Tuesday 1st July there may be discussion of whether to allow limited use, in the UK, of a pesticide that should be banned for (at least) two years in Europe.

I plead with you to discourage any such derogation by our government.

I do see many conflicting and sometimes contradictory views on the matter – and some of what's in the media is overly alarmist – but many of the authoritative observations and conclusions are difficult to ignore. To know the situation in areas such as the US *is* truly alarming.

So for possibly the first time in my life, I find myself writing to an MP. I feel very strongly that in this matter, it's not enough to simply 'err on the side of caution' and do so only sometimes.

The government should – please:

* be rigorous and consistent in UK enforcement of the ban

* support a continuation of the European ban beyond the two-year period.

Thank you for your consideration.


================
Selected reading
================

Possible UK Derogation on the use of a neonicotinoid on oil seed rape (2014-06-26)
<http://www.bbka.org.uk/news_and_events/press_office/press_releases.php?year=2014&month=6&type=Statement>

> … We do not know the precise nature of the derogation being sought
> (for example it may be for limited geographical areas or there may be
> additional product stewardship requirements to be met). … We will
> communicate further information as soon as we receive it. …


'Sub-lethal exposure to neonicotinoids impaired honey bees winterization before proceeding to colony collapse disorder' (Bulletin of Insectology 67 (1): 125-130, 2014)
<http://www.bulletinofinsectology.org/pdfarticles/vol67-2014-125-130lu.pdf>

> Abstract
>
> Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony collapse disorder (CCD) that
> appeared in 2005/2006 still lingers in many parts of the world. Here
> we show that sub-lethal exposure of neonicotinoids, imidacloprid or
> clothianidin, affected the winterization of healthy colonies that
> subsequently leads to CCD. We found honey bees in both control and
> neonicotinoid-treated groups progressed almost identically through the
> summer and fall seasons and observed no acute morbidity or mortality
> in either group until the end of winter. Bees from six of the twelve
> neonicotinoid-treated colonies had abandoned their hives, and were
> eventually dead with symptoms resembling CCD. However, we observed a
> complete opposite phenomenon in the control colonies in which instead
> of abandonment, they were re-populated quickly with new emerging bees.
> Only one of the six control colonies was lost due to Nosema-like
> infection. The observations from this study may help to elucidate the
> mechanisms by which sub-lethal neonicotinoids exposure caused honey
> bees to vanish from their hives.


Colony Loss 2013-2014 | Bee Informed Partnership (2014-05-06)
<http://beeinformed.org/2014/05/colony-loss-2013-2014/>

> … For the winter of 2013/14, 23.2% of managed honey bee colonies in
> the U.S. died. …


Report: Honeybee Death Rate is Currently too High for Survival of the Species (2014-06-03)
<http://livefreelivenatural.com/honeybee-death-rate-currently-high-survival-species-crucial-food/>

> … A recent study from Harvard, published on March 27th of this year,
> has definitively confirmed what scientists outside the US have been
> saying for years: neonicotinoids are THE [emphasis added] cause of
> colony collapse disorder(CCD). The study showed that 50% of colonies
> populated by bees who had been in contact with these pesticides
> collapsed, compared to only 1 in 6 who were not in contact with
> neonicotinoids. …


Bee-harming pesticides banned in Europe | Environment | The Guardian (2013-04-29)
<http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/apr/29/bee-harming-pesticides-banned-europe>

> … the EFSA concluded in January that three neonicotinoids –
> thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid – posed an unnacceptable
> risk to bees. The three will be banned from use for two years on
> flowering crops such as corn, oilseed rape and sunflowers, upon which
> bees feed. …


BBC - Widespread impacts of neonicotinoids 'impossible to deny' (2014-06-24)
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27980344>

> … Researchers, who have carried out a four-year review of the
> literature, say the evidence of damage is now "conclusive".
>
> The scientists say the threat to nature is the same as that once posed
> by the notorious chemical DDT.…


The Guardian - Syngenta seeks ‘emergency’ exemption to use banned insecticide on UK crops (2014-06-25)
<http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/25/syngenta-exemption-neonicotinoid-insecticide-ban-oilseed-rape>

> … The news of Syngenta’s application comes a day after an
> international scientific review concluded there was “clear evidence of
> [neonicotinoid] harm sufficient to trigger regulatory action”.
> Neonicotinoids are the world’s most widely used insecticide and the
> panel said contamination was so pervasive it threatened global food
> production. …
>
> … There is little evidence that neonicotinoids benefit crop
> production, according to Prof Dave Goulson, at the University of
> Sussex and part of the panel behind Tuesday’s major report: “There is
> no evidence that we need to be using these chemicals on anything like
> the scale we are.” …


Farmers Guardian - Government considers neonicotinoid derogation request (2014-06-24)
<http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/government-considers-neonicotinoid-derogation-request/65497.article>

> … According to NFU president Meurig Raymond, the issue was potentially
> due to be discussed by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning.
>
> However, Mr Raymond said the prospects of Government approval ahead of
> the meeting were not thought to be good, given the wider concerns over
> the use of the seed treatments, highlighted across the national media
> today. …


The Independent - Pesticides linked to mass bee deaths also affect other friendly organisms including birds and fish (2014-06-24)
<http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/pesticides-linked-to-mass-bee-deaths-also-affect-other-friendly-organisms-including-birds-and-fish-9557959.html>

> … A group of 29 scientists from four continents found unequivocal
> evidence from hundreds of published studies to claim that “neonics” –
> the most widely used pesticides in the world – are having a dramatic
> impact on the ecosystems that support food production …


Washington Examiner - Obama moves to save the honey bees, targets pesticides (2014-06-20)
<http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-moves-to-save-the-honey-bees-targets-pesticides/article/2550000>

> … Pollinators, mostly bees, are responsible for much of what grows on
> farms.
>
> In a related move, the Agriculture Department said it would spend $8
> million to establish new habitats for honey bees in Michigan,
> Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
>
> "American agricultural production relies on having a healthy honey bee
> population," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "In recent years,
> factors such as diseases, parasites, pesticides or habitat loss have
> contributed to a significant decline in the honey bee population. This
> $8 million is part of the administration's ongoing strategy to reverse
> these trends …