Dear Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,

In his reply to the question regarding neonicotins from Michael Dugher on 21 July 2015, George Eustice stated that, once the data has been collected, EFSA will produce an assessment of the risks to bees from the use of neonicotinoids. The Commission will then decide whether to propose changes to the current restrictions on neonicotinoids. Mr Eustice also stated the UK will be guided by the evidence.

How does this statement equate to the decision by Liz Truss on 22 July 2015, against the advice of government experts and public opinion, to allow the use of bee-killing neonicotinoids on UK fields?

Is Mr Eustice cognisant of the intentions to his Environment Secretary?

Yours faithfully,

Roger N A Branton

Helpline, Defra (CCU), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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Dear Helpline, Defra (CCU),

I have not received any response to my request of 22 July 2015 for an explanation of why George Eustice stated on 21 July 2015 that the UK, once the data had been collected, would be guided by the European Commission regarding any changes to the current restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids, but Liz Truss announced on the 22 July 2015, against the advice of government experts and public opinion, her decision to allow the use of bee-killing neonicotinoids on UK fields.

By law, I should have received a prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Branton

Helpline, Defra (CCU), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Thank you for your email. We have a target of replying to all emails
within 15 working days. If you need a reply before then, please call the
Defra Helpline on 03459 33 55 77, or visit
[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati....

We receive thousands of identical campaign emails a month. These are read
and the volumes received are recorded, but they do not receive individual
replies.

Best wishes,

Customer Contact Unit

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

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If you have received it in error you have no authority to use, disclose,
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Helpline, Defra (CCU), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dear Mr Branton
 
RE:     NEONICOTINOID INSECTICIDES
 
Thank you for your e-mail dated 22 July, sent to Defra via
WhatDoTheyKnow.com (WDTK) concerning the use of neonicotinoid
insecticides.  I have been asked to reply.
 
Firstly, may I explain at the outset how we have handled your e-mail. 
WDTK is designed for requests for recorded information; we would refer you
to WDTK’s advice on how to use the website here:
[1]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/requ... Your questions are not
a request for recorded information and therefore are to be answered as
normal correspondence.  May I apologise for not responding sooner.
 
We agree that the health of our pollinators is very important in itself
and to the wider environment. That is why in November 2014 the Government
launched a 10 year strategy which will ensure pollinator needs are
addressed as an integral part of land and habitat management as well as
further investigating the ways we can help pollinators thrive. This
includes research on the use of pesticides.
 
Following concerns about some types of neonicotinoid pesticides the
European Commission restricted the use of three neonicotinoids from 1
December 2013. The main European Regulation on pesticides provides for
limited and controlled use of those restricted neonicotinoids on an
exceptional basis in emergency situations to control a danger which cannot
be contained by other reasonable means.
 
In the UK we decided we would use best available science to make the
decision on applications. We have a committee of scientists called the
Expert Committee on Pesticides. It is their job to advise Ministers on
what authorisations are capable of being issued using evidence about the
impact on the environment and public safety and reflecting the relevant
criteria for authorisation. When they provide their advice they have to
take into account all environmental factors; such as increasing resistance
to alternative pesticides due to over-reliance on them, the effect of
using greater quantities of less effective pesticides on farm
biodiversity, and the availability of alternative pesticides and agronomic
techniques to reduce the need for pesticides.
 
The Committee considered two applications for emergency authorisations,
each for two separate neonicotinoid seed treatments for winter oilseed
rape this year. They recommended the first application, which requested
authorisation to use two neonicotinoids on 79% of the national crop area,
was rejected as their use was not limited and controlled.
 
The Committee and Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser recommended that the
second application, which requested authorisation to use two
neonicotinoids on 5% of the national crop area, was accepted as their use
was limited and controlled, was subject to stewardship arrangements, and
was to control a danger which could not be contained by any other
reasonable means. The minutes from the Committee’s meeting are available
online: 
[2]http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/in....
 
Ministers followed the Committee’s advice on the basis that the criteria
for granting the authorisations were met.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Defra Customer Contact Unit
 
 
 
 
 
 

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

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once it has left our systems.
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